Category: English

Ethan thinks I’m dirty because I drive for Uber. If my hands touch his shirt after touching the steering wheel, he has to disinfect it. For seven years of marriage, he constantly tells me I’m an embarrassment, that I’m just a poor driver who doesn’t deserve a university professor like him. That night, after dropping off my last passenger and preparing to clock out, the female passenger had a six-year-old boy with her. As soon as they got in, she called her husband saying she was coming home for their anniversary. The voice on the phone sounded exactly like my husband, Ethan. Clinging to one last shred of hope, I asked the boy his father’s name. He lifted his little face proudly and said: “My daddy’s name is Ethan Morrison. He’s a university professor! He even got his PhD just to marry my mom!” My hands gripping the steering wheel went ice cold. Throughout our seven-year marriage, he said he wanted to focus on his career and didn’t want kids. But I never imagined his illegitimate son was already six years old. When I got home, just as I was about to confront him, I heard him on the phone with his father: “Arrange a car accident for Anna to give her amnesia. Once she’s out of it, we’ll take her money and bring my wife and son home.” I didn’t argue or make a scene. I just opened my mom’s chat and sent one message: [Mom, I agree to the Lancaster arranged marriage. I want to take everything from the Morrison family.]

After my shower, Ethan placed a bowl of soup on the table. “You’re back so late today. Busy?” He was still playing the role of devoted husband, as if he wasn’t the one who’d been cheating for six years. Ethan rarely had time to cook. Usually I rushed home to make him dinner. The old me would have been so touched by this bowl of soup. But I didn’t touch it. I just sat down and looked at him quietly. He sensed something was off but still asked patiently. “What’s wrong? Bad day? Didn’t get many rides?” “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. About having kids, there’s no rush.” I laughed bitterly inside. Right, your kid is already that big. What’s the rush? Throughout our marriage, Ethan had always used his rising career as an excuse to refuse having children. I thought he felt our life wasn’t stable enough, and I felt bad that his professor job was so demanding. So I worked myself to the bone taking rides, from 4 AM until midnight. Now it’s clear—he just didn’t want to have children with me. Thinking of our seven years together, I still held onto one last sliver of hope. “Ethan, is there something you’re hiding from me?” “If you tell me now, I can pretend nothing happened.” Ethan’s body stiffened. Clearly I’d hit a nerve. “What do you mean?” I was too tired to explain further. “I mean, who’s the person you’re cheating with?” Ethan’s expression changed. He set down his spoon and looked at me coldly. “Anna, you have nothing to do all day but sit here with these paranoid thoughts?” “Imagining your husband cheating with someone else—don’t you disgust yourself?” I clenched my fists. The last trace of affection vanished completely. “I disgust myself?” “When you had your dad plot to hurt your own wife, why didn’t you find yourself disgusting?” Ethan froze for a moment, then frowned in disgust. “You were eavesdropping on my phone call?” After a few seconds, he regained his composure and looked at me coldly. “Since you heard, I’ll be straight with you. Nina and I have been together for years. If she hadn’t gone abroad that year, and if you hadn’t saved me, why would I marry someone useless like you?” Just then, his phone screen lit up. Ethan saw something that made him smile broadly. I sneered inwardly. So that woman was also his first love, his white moonlight. My chest began to ache belatedly, and a dull pain spread from my ribs. That was the aftereffect from saving him back then. My breathing quickened. “Ethan, get my medicine… my rib injury is flaring up…” But Ethan didn’t even glance at me. He grabbed his coat and walked out the door. “Anna, playing the victim card works once, but not twice.” “You owe Nina so much. Apologize to her properly, and we can go back to how things were.” “I’m going to celebrate our anniversary with Nina. Think it over and come find me.” My heart went completely numb. In his eyes, everything I’d sacrificed for him was just playing the victim. The pain intensified. I struggled to move and find my medicine. Just after taking it, the housekeeper Lily called me. “Miss, the arranged marriage with the Lancaster family is set for three days from now. Please be ready.”

I packed my things to go home when a coworker texted me. [Anna, why are there bad reviews about you all over the Uber platform?] [The company fired you and locked your car.] I felt nothing inside. I didn’t need to guess—this was Ethan’s doing. He wanted to use this to force me to apologize, to force me to endure it. But that was fine. I was going to quit anyway. This saved me the trouble. But the next message truly made me freeze. [Oh right, Professor Morrison is actually our boss’s son!] Ethan was the son of Richard Morrison, owner of Morrison Group? My heart sank. No wonder my supervisor always deliberately made things difficult for me, gave me so few assignments. No wonder he could get his father to sabotage me. But from our wedding until now, he’d lied to me, saying his parents lived in a remote countryside and couldn’t come to the city. I’d never met his parents. They didn’t even attend our wedding. I didn’t care about his rich family background, but I couldn’t tolerate being deceived for seven years. From the very beginning, he never intended to accept me, and after all these years, still didn’t. Just as I was about to block all of Ethan’s contacts, an unfamiliar number called. “Is this Anna? I’m Ethan’s father. Do you have time to come to the house for dinner?” After thinking it over, I agreed. These seven years of feelings deserved some closure. When I arrived at the Morrison villa, it was opulent inside, with many of their relatives present. After dinner, out of politeness, I helped clear the table. That’s when I heard people talking about me. “Is this the person Ethan has never brought home? She’s pretty enough, but why does she look so shabby?” “Oh, she’s just an Uber driver who saved him once. How could she compare to Nina?” “Exactly. Nina may not work, but she comes from an excellent family background.” My expression didn’t change, but my heart ached again. Back then, for Ethan’s sake, I refused the family’s arranged marriage, fought terribly with my mom, and was kicked out of the house. I worked hard to give Ethan the best life I could. He despised me for being incompetent, but the woman he loved devotedly was just a trophy who did nothing. Love and lack of love—it really was obvious. Mr. Morrison scoffed: “What wife? The marriage certificate is fake.” “My son said she’s just a housekeeper he hired.” All the blood in my body seemed to freeze. I stood there rigidly. The marriage certificate was fake? I thought about the marriage certificate I’d prepared yesterday to file for divorce—so light, with so much of the color faded. I’d thought it was just old, but it turned out to be a fake document. The year we got married, Ethan and I walked out of the marriage registration office together. He held the marriage certificate and smiled at me for the first time. “Anna, I’ll treat you well.” I was so excited I couldn’t sleep all night. How moved I was then—that’s how ironic it is now. Mr. Morrison even pulled out photos of their family of three to show everyone. “This is my son’s real wife. The child looks just like his father, doesn’t he?” Just then, a news segment played on the TV. “The Morrison family heir has officially announced his longtime girlfriend, Miss Nina.” “According to the couple, they will hold the wedding of the century at the end of this month.” Watching the two of them on the TV screen, smiling and leaning sweetly against each other. I finally understood Mr. Morrison’s intentions. He called me here just to make me leave on my own, to establish in front of everyone. That I was the homewrecker who destroyed their family. After composing myself, I pushed open the door to leave, only to run straight into Ethan, who’d just returned. Behind him stood the child and Nina. Seeing me, Ethan’s expression turned icy. “Anna, you dare make a scene at my house?” “In front of all these people, what are you trying to pull?” After all these years, he still jumped to conclusions without asking, never caring about my feelings. I steadied my breathing. Perfect timing to make everything clear in front of everyone. “Ethan, I came to tell you that not everyone is like your kept mistress.” “I, Anna Hart, haven’t used a penny of your money or asked you for a single favor.” “From now on, you have nothing to do with me. Understand?”

Ethan’s normally arrogant face showed disbelief and panic. “What do you mean? You want a divorce?” I laughed coldly. “Divorce? The marriage certificate is fake. There’s no divorce to speak of.” “All these years with you, I was just a free housekeeper, wasn’t I?” The Morrison relatives seized the opportunity to join in. “Ethan, this woman just claimed to be your wife. What’s your relationship with her?” Ethan’s earlier panic vanished in a flash. He gripped Nina’s hand tightly. “Impossible. The one I’ve always loved is Nina.” “Would I, Ethan Morrison, ever fall for an Uber driver?” Then Nina smiled and wrapped her arm around his shoulder, looking me up and down. “Oh, so it’s you, that driver from the other day. Just as I thought—dirty car, dirty person.” I clenched my fists, holding back again and again. Forget it. Arguing with people like this is a waste of life. But just as I brushed past them, Nina lowered her voice and leaned close to my ear. “He hasn’t let you touch him in a long time, has he? Want to know why?” “Because he only has me in his heart. And you—dirty and weak, you can’t even hold onto your own man.” Hearing those words, I couldn’t suppress my anger anymore. Although I was already numb to Ethan’s cheating, I couldn’t tolerate the mistress’s constant provocations. But before I could speak, Nina suddenly let go and fell backward down the steps. She crashed hard at the villa entrance, blood seeping from the back of her head. The Morrison family members cried out in alarm. Ethan shoved me aside roughly and ran down to help Nina. “Nina, Nina are you okay… does it hurt…” Seeing his heartbroken expression, I just felt it was laughable. Once, to save him, I broke two ribs and used my body to pry open a crushed car door. Ethan turned his head, eyes red, and shouted at me. “Anna, have you lost your mind? To get me, you want to kill Nina?” This was the first time I’d seen him this furious. I said coldly: “She fell by herself. Are you blind?” Before I finished speaking, a sharp pain shot through my hand. It was Ethan’s illegitimate son. He was hitting my arm with a scalding hot water kettle. “Bad person! Don’t bully my mom!” I frowned and pushed the child away. Ethan suddenly rushed over and confronted me. “You crazy woman, now you want to hurt my son too?” “Anna, do you only know these dirty tricks?” Mr. Morrison picked up his phone and aimed it at me. He was livestreaming. “Everyone come look—the homewrecker making trouble at the real family’s home, trying to kill the man’s partner, and even attacking the child!” Watching this absurd scene unfold, I suddenly felt so tired. No matter how I explained, no one would believe me. They didn’t care about the truth. They just wanted to destroy my reputation. Ethan kept accusing me, his eyes full of hatred. “Anna, I must have been blind to ever show you mercy!” “You’ve occupied Nina’s place for so many years—how dare you lay a hand on him!” “Get on your knees and apologize to him right now!” I was so angry I laughed. “Why should I apologize for something I didn’t do?” “You chose to marry me, you chose to cheat. What do I owe Nina?” I looked at them one last time, coldly. “Ethan, you lied to me for seven years. You’re the one who owes me.” “I hope you never regret this for the rest of your life.” With that, I ignored everyone’s curses and walked straight out. I told Lily to pick me up and stood by the roadside waiting for the car. But the next second, a black car came barreling toward me. I couldn’t dodge in time and crashed straight into the hood.

When I woke up again, I was lying in the Hart family’s private hospital. My head was spinning badly, and my left leg hurt terribly. But compared to when I saved Ethan, this injury was nothing. My mom’s hoarse voice sounded: “You’re awake?” I turned my head to see her sitting by the bed, eyes red and swollen. “Mom.” Seven years. I’d finally seen my mom again. She gently held my hand, as if only then daring to confirm I was really awake. “How long was I asleep?” “Five days.” Five days. Only then did I learn that Ethan, to get revenge on me, had deliberately arranged for a car to hit me. Fortunately, Lily arrived in time and sent me to the best hospital for emergency treatment, which is why I woke up. Luckily there were no major injuries, just a mild concussion and external wounds. I braced my arms to sit up. A dull pain shot through my ribs. My mom said she’d already sent people to deal with the hit-and-run driver, but as for those two people, she’d leave them to me. I nodded without asking more. Of course I wouldn’t let them off easily, but not now. Then I remembered something else. “What about the Lancaster arranged marriage?” Lily hesitated: “Mr. Lancaster said he can wait a bit longer.” I frowned and immediately threw off the covers to get out of bed. “No more waiting. Let’s do it today.” “Making Adrian Lancaster wait so long—what would that look like?” My mom came over and patted my shoulder gently, saying nothing. Finally, I got in the car heading to the Lancaster house. On the way, I opened my phone. There was a message Ethan had just sent. I didn’t open it. I just deleted it. When I arrived at the Lancaster house, Adrian was already waiting for me. He wore a well-tailored dark suit. When he saw me get out of the car, he paused slightly. I walked over and extended my hand. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Lancaster.” He smiled and placed his hand in my palm. “Just call me Adrian.” At the Morrison villa, Ethan adjusted Nina’s collar. “Nina, today is the Lancaster family’s young heir’s wedding. I’m going to discuss a project.” “Many elites will be there. It’s a good chance for you to meet them.” He got in the car to the Lancaster house with Nina, opened his chat with Anna, still feeling uneasy. [Haven’t you had enough of your tantrum these past few days? When you’ve thought it through, come apologize to Nina.] [As long as you apologize sincerely, I won’t hold it against you. We can go back to how things were.] But she hadn’t replied to a single message these past few days. After thinking, he sent another one. [About the marriage certificate—that was my fault. Whatever compensation you want, I’ll give it to you.] After sending it, he entered the Lancaster venue with Nina. Inside, it was packed with business elites. Once everyone arrived, the Lancaster family announced they would present today’s newlyweds. Nina said enviously: “I just heard the woman marrying into the Lancaster family has an even better background. I wonder which heiress she is.” As soon as she finished speaking, I walked into the venue with a smile, holding Adrian’s hand. The guests below applauded in congratulation. After seeing my face clearly, Ethan froze in place. The wine glass in his hand nearly slipped.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “416024”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

There is a viral trend online lately, using a fake account to test your boyfriend’s loyalty. “I have a girlfriend. I love her so much. Check my Ins. She is all over it.” That was Ethan Shaw’s reply when I tested him with my burner account. But when I clicked on his Ins, the pinned photo showed him with his arm around my best friend, Chloe Williams. For ten years, his posts were visible to me, but the rest of the world saw a completely different version. I hadn’t even started crying when I heard the door unlock. He walked in, covered in snow, and leaned down to kiss away the tears at the corner of my eyes. “Why are you crying? Did you fight with your family again?” I gripped my phone tighter and shook my head with a smile. But from that moment on, I started packing my bags. I booked a one-way ticket to Sweden for a month from now. Ethan Shaw, you had better never find out. I’m not planning to attend the wedding a month from now. Aria’s POV There is a viral trend online lately, using a fake account to test your boyfriend’s loyalty. Even though Ethan Shaw and I have been together for ten years, even though we are getting married in two months, I was still curious whether Ethan would stay true to his principles. After I added him on the fake account, Ethan’s attitude was cold. Once he figured out my intentions, he sent back a blunt reply. “I have a girlfriend. I love her so much. Check my Ins. She is all over it.” My heart felt so warm and sweet. But the moment I opened his Ins, I completely froze. The pinned photo wasn’t of me. It was of my best friend, Chloe Williams. The caption was intimate, clearly showing off his girlfriend. I opened my real account on another phone to compare, and that’s when I discovered Ethan had been lying to me all along! All the posts about me on his Ins were only visible to me and a few close friends. But the posts about Chloe, everyone could see those. I gripped my phone tightly. My blood ran cold. I could barely breathe. I didn’t want to cry, but hot tears blurred my vision anyway. My mind flashed back to when Ethan proposed to me. That mature, steady man showed nervousness for the first time. His whole body was trembling. So even the deepest love can’t survive the test of time? The man who said he would love me forever, his heart had already left me long ago. I was lost in thought when the front door clicked open. Ethan walked in, bringing the cold wind and snow with him. He saw my red eyes and frowned slightly, touching my face with concern. “Why are you crying? Did you fight with your family again?” Ten years. Ethan knew me better than anyone. I’d been by his side since he was broke, and it caused constant fights with my parents. But now he was the one hurting me the most. I looked up into his eyes. My heart churned with bitterness. I wanted so badly to cry and demand to know why he was doing this. We were so close to our happy ending. Why did he stop to hold someone else’s hand instead? But I held it in. Mississippi was full of Ethan’s connections. If I wanted to leave, I couldn’t let him know. Otherwise, stopping me would be the easiest thing in the world for him. I turned my head away. My voice was hoarse. “It’s nothing. I’m used to it.” Ethan nodded, but he didn’t comfort me gently like he used to. “Sorry, I was supposed to spend our anniversary at home with you today, but something came up at work. I need to go back to the office.” “Get some rest early.” He casually set down a gift, then grabbed the most formal coat from the closet and left in a hurry. I saw the gentle smile that unconsciously appeared on his face as he looked at his phone. His lies were so obvious. I could see right through them with just one glance. The door closed completely. I took out my phone and saw that Chloe had posted on Ins. The location was a famous upscale restaurant. She said her boyfriend was taking her to dinner. His face wasn’t visible, but I recognized the Rolex on his wrist immediately. It was Ethan’s. I scrolled through Chloe’s Ins. That’s when I realized that three years ago, when I introduced Ethan to Chloe, they had already gotten together. Behind my back, Chloe had been showering Ethan with care and attention. Maybe because he was on a business trip that year and felt lonely, or maybe because of the thrill of something new, he allowed Chloe to cross the line. And it had continued until now. There was also a conversation between the two of them. Chloe had messaged Ethan. “Did I leave my hair tie at your place?” Ethan’s reply made me sick to my stomach. “It fell in the master bedroom. Come get it next time. I’ll keep it safe for you.” No wonder Ethan had suddenly started locking his little box. It wasn’t just filled with our photo albums and our memories. It had his memories with someone else too. The thought of my fiancé and my best friend getting intimate in this bed made my heart twist in pain. A wave of nausea surged up my throat. I ran to the bathroom and threw up. I don’t know how long I cried or how long I was sick. I had no strength left. My heart went numb. I quickly packed my things and moved to the guest room. Then I walked to the balcony, letting the wind hit my face as I called my mom. My voice was thick with tears. “Mom, I’m sorry. I should have listened to you.” “I broke up with him. Didn’t you want to immigrate to Sweden? I’ll go with you.” My mother still loved her daughter in the end. She comforted me for a long time before hanging up. I calculated everything. I needed to liquidate all my assets. Getting the money would take at least a month. Then I bought three one-way tickets to Sweden for a month from now. That night, I didn’t go to bed early. Instead, I got up and cleaned the whole house until it was spotless. I threw away everything related to Ethan. Looking at the anniversary gift Ethan had given me, I pulled at the corner of my mouth and decisively threw the necklace into the trash. Ethan Shaw, I’ve been with you since I was fifteen. I’ve been by your side for ten whole years. You really have no heart.

Aria’s POV The next morning, I woke up to find myself back in the master bedroom. Ethan walked in wearing loungewear and set the breakfast he was holding on the nightstand. Like before, he reached out to hug me. “Why did you run off to the guest room? I spent forever looking for you.” I caught the scent of unfamiliar women’s perfume on him and noticed poorly concealed red marks on his neck. I closed my eyes, suppressing the stabbing pain in my heart, and calmly rolled out of his embrace. “I accidentally spilled water on the bed last night, so I switched rooms.” Ethan didn’t notice anything unusual about me. Or maybe he just didn’t care anymore. He hugged me from behind, resting his chin in the curve of my shoulder. His voice was deep and intoxicating. “Aria, I have good news.” “Chloe just got hired as my intern assistant. You’ve always said you were worried about her getting bullied at work, right? With me looking after her, she won’t be mistreated at the office.” I fell silent. I almost wanted to laugh. A prosecutor known for being efficient and extremely focused on competence. How could he allow a graduate with zero internship experience to be his assistant? At first, I had also asked Ethan about working at the prosecutor’s office so I could spend more time with him. It would have just taken one word from him. But he refused. He said it would be unethical, that it would damage his reputation. I believed him. But now, how much effort had he put in behind the scenes to get Chloe into the prosecutor’s office? I looked up at him. “Really? That’s good then.” I pushed Ethan away and got straight out of bed. Today I didn’t wait to go to work with Ethan. Instead, I called a cab and went to the law firm on my own. During lunch break, I was eating at a nearby restaurant. I sat in a corner booth and happened to run into Chloe walking in with her arm linked through Ethan’s. Ethan went to order food first. Chloe wanted to find a seat. The moment she looked up, our eyes met. Her gaze flickered, but she quickly recovered and walked over to sit across from me casually. “Aria, why didn’t you reply to my message yesterday? I was worried all night.” “Oh, by the way, Ethan left this at my place last time he came over. I can finally give it back to you.” Chloe pulled a worn-out plushie from her bag. My grip on my knife and fork suddenly tightened. This plushie, I had made it by hand for Ethan when we first got together. He cherished it so much. He kept it hanging on his briefcase and never took it off. Now it had become trash he could casually throw away. I smiled. “I have something for you too.” Looking at the familiar hair tie in my hand, Chloe stayed completely calm. She smiled, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes. “So you finally know?” The pain of betrayal from my closest friend made my voice rough. “Why?” Chloe laughed coldly. “Don’t you know? You’ve always looked down on me because your family has money! Why do you get to be better than me at everything? Finally, I get to win against you for once!” I couldn’t believe Chloe had been seeing me this way all along. I’d always known her family was poor. Since we were kids, I’d let her have her way. I even picked out expensive gifts for her just to satisfy her vanity. If that’s how it was, I didn’t need to care about our past friendship anymore. “Chloe, do you really think Ethan is serious about you? If he truly loved you, he would have broken up with me and married you already. You’re nothing but a disposable toy in his life. You think you can win against me by relying on some man?” “As long as I’m around, you’ll always be nothing but a homewrecker who can’t show her face in public!” My words struck the nerve Chloe was most sensitive about. Her face turned red with anger and humiliation. Her voice became shrill. “What do you know! I’ll show you right now who Ethan really cares about!” She grabbed the pot of boiling hot water next to her and threw it directly at me! It felt like flames were burning from the inside, trying to tear through my skin and explode outward. The dense, needle-like burning pain made it hard to breathe. I gritted my teeth and shoved Chloe away hard, but before I could take a step, the pain made me bend over against the wall. Hearing the commotion, Ethan rushed over. When he saw my disheveled state, his heart jumped. He immediately came forward to carry me out. But a weak crying voice stopped him. “Ethan, my leg hurts so much…” He turned around and saw Chloe collapsed on the floor. Her swollen ankle had a huge gash, and blood was everywhere. Ethan pressed his lips together. His expression was conflicted. In the end, he turned around and went back. “Aria, Chloe has a blood clotting disorder. If we wait any longer, her life could be in danger. I’ll take her to the hospital first and then come back for you.” Suffering from the pain, Ethan’s voice seemed so distant. Just like the distance between our hearts. I used all my strength to lift my head, only to see his panicked retreating figure. From beginning to end, he never once looked back at me.

Aria’s POV When I woke up in the hospital, a nurse Ethan had hired was sitting beside me. The skin with extensive burns had already blistered. The moment I moved, the pain made me groan. The nurse helped me sit up and poured me a glass of water while telling me how lucky I was. “Your boyfriend really loves you. As soon as he found out you were hospitalized, he hired a nurse and bought a ton of supplements.” I looked at the gift boxes on the floor and said nothing. I figured Ethan was still with Chloe right now. Where the body is, that’s where the heart is. So did he really love me? After the nurse applied my medicine, I took out my phone and saw that Chloe had sent me a one-minute video. The thumbnail showed Ethan half-kneeling on the ground, carefully lifting her calf to apply medicine. “Ethan, are you going home to be with Aria tonight? Can you stay a little longer? Please stay with me a bit more.” After applying the medicine, Chloe leaned into his arms. Her voice was fragile. Ethan was silent for a moment. “Not tonight. I’ll stay with you when I have time.” Chloe looked up at him with her tearful eyes, looking pitiful. “Anytime? I bought tickets to Disneyland this Wednesday. Will you come with me?” “I don’t mind not having a title. As long as you can spare time to be with me, I’m satisfied.” Ethan ruffled her hair and replied softly. “Okay.” My fingers trembled. My phone fell onto the bed. Ethan knew perfectly well that this Wednesday, both families were supposed to have dinner together to discuss the wedding. Why did it have to be that day? He knew that choosing Chloe on such an important day was what would make her happy. Even though my heart felt dead, sadness, despair, and grievance, all these complex emotions surged and churned in my chest. My chest felt heavy and sore. My eyes stung. Tears poured down like rain. Ethan said he would come pick me up. I didn’t wait. I paid the bill myself and left the hospital. That evening, I received an invitation to a class reunion. The next day, I arrived at the private room only to find that Chloe and Ethan were there too. I acted like I didn’t see them and sat down in a corner. Everyone had a few drinks, and the atmosphere gradually heated up. Someone suggested playing games. The first round was truth or dare. Ethan drew a dare to kiss the person next to him for ten seconds. At first, no one dared to say anything. But seeing that I didn’t react, everyone got tipsy and started egging them on. Someone nearby got impatient and pushed Chloe. She cried out and fell toward Ethan. Her red lips barely touched his. Ethan instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist. His eyes darkened with heavy desire. The room erupted with cheers and jeers. When time was up, Chloe pulled away from Ethan’s embrace with a red face. The next second, I received a message from Ethan. “It was just to complete the game. I didn’t want to ruin the mood. Don’t overthink it.” I pulled at the corner of my mouth without replying and got up to go to the balcony for air. Right after, Ethan also received a call from his secretary and followed me out. The game continued. This time it was Chloe’s turn to draw truth. Everyone told her to reveal the most explosive secret she knew. Chloe thought for a moment and smiled. “Of course I have one.” “It’s about Aria Bennett. You don’t really think she’s some innocent good girl, do you? In private, she’s quite wild.” When I came back from getting air on the balcony, Ethan and Chloe were gone. Someone said Chloe had drunk too much and was having stomach spasms, so Ethan took her to the hospital. I didn’t want to think about whether it was true or not. I just nodded. But somehow, I felt like everyone was looking at me strangely. The next second, the private room door was locked from the inside. Alarm bells went off in my head. I stood up to leave, but a man next to me grabbed my wrist and pinned me down on the couch. “I thought you were some pure innocent woman. Turns out you like hooking up with guys on apps when your boyfriend’s out of town. And one guy isn’t even enough for you… Lucky for you, there are five of us here. Why don’t you stay and play with us?” Before I could react. The next second, a pair of hands started tearing off my clothes!

Aria’s POV I was so scared my heart nearly stopped. I struggled with all my strength, but I was no match for the man’s brute force. Feeling my clothes being stripped off one by one, I fell into complete despair. Tears streamed down my face. The man pressing down on me felt a surge of tenderness and leaned down to kiss my face. I seized the opportunity and bit down hard on his neck! A painful howl echoed through the room. I used all my strength to push him off and crashed through the door, running out. “You fucking bitch! If I catch you, you’re dead!” Several men charged out after me. The one I’d bitten spoke through gritted teeth, his voice vicious. I was terrified beyond belief. I ran while trembling, fumbling for my phone in my pocket. I opened my contacts to call the police but accidentally pressed the first number in my list. The moment the call connected, my voice was shaking. I instinctively cried for help. “Please… help me…” But what came from the other end was heavy, magnetic male breathing and Chloe’s seductive moans. “Ethan… slower… it’s too fast, I can’t take it…” My phone fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. It wasn’t until I ran out onto the street and saw a police officer walking toward me that I looked back. The group of men didn’t dare follow anymore. I knew I was safe. My body went weak. I collapsed right there on the ground. A sharp pain hit me. Looking down, I realized my elbow and shin had gotten scraped when I fell. Blood was slowly staining my white dress red. The joy of surviving and the lingering terror swallowed my heart. I covered my face and finally broke down crying. By the time Ethan got the news and rushed to the hospital, I was at the front desk window paying the bill while holding my wound. “Miss, your health insurance wasn’t paid last month. You need to pay the full amount out of pocket now. Remember to renew it if you need to.” I shook my head. “No need. I’ll be leaving here soon anyway.” “Aria, leaving? Where are you going? We’re about to get married.” I turned around and saw Ethan walking toward me. I lowered my head. My tone was flat. “Just a business trip in a little while.” Ethan nodded without thinking much of it. In the operating room, I got thirty stitches total. By the time I came out, my face was already pale as paper. It was late at night. The doctor said I should have family with me while getting my IV. The infusion area was eerily quiet. I closed my eyes tiredly. For the first time, I didn’t lean against Ethan. “Aria, those men have been arrested. They said it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. They’ve already confessed.” I opened my eyes and looked at him. My voice was calm. “Ethan, what if I told you that Chloe deliberately spoke badly about me and incited them to do this? Would you believe me?” Ethan frowned slightly. “Chloe isn’t that kind of person. I know you usually look down on her, but if you still consider her your friend at all, don’t make up rumors and ruin her reputation.” “I’ve been working with her at the prosecutor’s office these past few days. I know what kind of person she is.” I pulled at the corner of my mouth. My heart felt like it was being stabbed with needles. How long had he even known Chloe? Yet Ethan dared to defend her so confidently. But we’d been together for ten years. And in his heart, I had this kind of malicious image. I was too exhausted to even argue back. Ethan’s phone rang. It was a special ringtone. Ethan’s expression instantly became tense. He answered the call and lowered his voice. “What’s wrong?” I heard Chloe crying on the other end. “Ethan, I think someone broke into my house. I’m too scared to go in. Please come quickly. I’m so scared.” “I’m coming now.” After hanging up, Ethan’s expression returned to normal. “Something came up at work. I need to go work overtime. I’ll come check on you later.” Even after Ethan’s figure completely disappeared, I didn’t say a word. I suddenly felt like I’d been so stupid before. Ethan’s terrible acting had actually fooled me for three years. I’d seen what it looked like when he loved me. So now that he didn’t love me anymore, it was equally obvious. In the middle of the night, I dozed off. I didn’t even notice when the blood bag filled up halfway. It wasn’t until the nurse rushed over that I woke up. “Where’s your boyfriend? He was just here. How did so much blood flow back without him noticing?” I pulled at the corner of my mouth and smiled. “You got the wrong person. That’s not my boyfriend.”

Aria’s POV After Ethan said he was going back to work overtime that day, he didn’t come back for three or four days straight. The next time I saw him was on a screen. He was representing the prosecutor’s office at a press conference, giving a legal education presentation to the public. Except this time, Chloe was sitting beside him. A reporter even captured their little hand-holding interaction when they stepped off the stage. Everyone knew how formidable Prosecutor Shaw was. Every case that passed through his hands was won. But in all these years, he’d never been this intimate with any woman in public. The live stream comments were all praising them as a perfect match, congratulating Chloe on her good fortune for winning over this iceberg. I turned off the news. Since Ethan wasn’t home anyway, I had some peace and quiet. I spent the whole day handling the remaining cases at the law firm. By the time I finished work, it was evening. Suddenly Ethan’s secretary called me. “Aria, something’s wrong! Something happened to Mr. Shaw. Get here quickly!” I pressed my lips together. But in the end, I went. Not because I was worried about Ethan, but because I happened to have case files from the law firm that needed to be delivered to the prosecutor’s office. As soon as I arrived, I saw chaos in front of the prosecutor’s office. A criminal that Ethan had sent to prison had been released and came back for revenge. He was holding Chloe hostage at the entrance to threaten Ethan. “Ethan Shaw, you destroyed my marriage and family! Now I’m going to kill your woman right in front of you and make you suffer for the rest of your life!” The man was extremely agitated. A six-inch knife was pressed against Chloe’s throat. She was crying, her whole body trembling. Ethan stood in front of the crowd with an ashen face. The police would need at least ten more minutes to arrive. The man was emotionally unstable. Chloe’s life could be in danger at any second. He couldn’t stall that long. I stood in the middle of the crowd, calmly watching it all. I was just about to turn and leave when I made eye contact with Ethan. Watching him walk quickly toward me, my heart jumped. Before I could react, I was already pulled out. “Look carefully! This is my fiancée!” “I’m letting her be your hostage. Let my assistant go.” I stared at him in disbelief, eyes wide. “Ethan Shaw, are you insane? Let go of me! I don’t want to!” But Ethan’s eyes were bloodshot. He clearly wasn’t listening to anything. The man laughed coldly. “Ethan Shaw, do you think I’m an idiot? If she’s really your fiancée, would you be willing to push her out? This morning I saw you kissing and touching that slut backstage! I saw everything!” “Blame your bad luck for getting mixed up with Ethan Shaw. Pray you don’t meet him in your next life!” The man raised the knife to strike. Chloe screamed. The next second, Ethan shoved me hard from behind, making my whole body lunge toward Chloe. The knife plunged into my chest. The pain nearly made me pass out. Chloe immediately pushed me away and ran straight into Ethan’s arms. “Ethan, I was so scared…” “I’m here. Don’t be afraid. I’ll get you out of here first.” Hearing their conversation, my heart twisted violently with pain. The man’s eyes had turned red with killing intent. He pulled out the knife and stabbed me twice more in the abdomen. Just as the last knife was about to plunge into my throat, I was in too much pain to struggle anymore. I could only close my eyes in despair. Fortunately, the police arrived in time and successfully shot the assailant dead. I collapsed on the ground. From excessive blood loss, my vision started going dark and blurry. My life flashed before my eyes. But it was all just Ethan’s cold face. I couldn’t even remember anymore how gentle Ethan had been to me at the beginning. The moment my eyes closed completely, I had only one thought. If there really is a next life, I will never be with Ethan Shaw again.

Aria’s POV After three days and nights of emergency treatment, I finally came back from hell. I opened my eyes and saw Ethan sitting beside me with a complicated expression. “Aria, you’re finally awake. You slept for three days. I was so afraid something would happen to you.” My voice was hoarse. “I think you were afraid nothing would happen to me. Otherwise you wouldn’t have pushed me out there.” Ethan’s expression froze for a moment. “The situation was urgent. If Chloe had gotten injured with her blood clotting disorder, she definitely wouldn’t have survived.” “She’s your friend too. Could you really bear to watch her die? Besides, you were rushed to the hospital for treatment right away. The doctor said as long as you rest properly, you’ll be fine.” So one stab to the chest and two to the abdomen. In his mind, that was “fine.” All the injuries I suffered couldn’t compare to two tears from Chloe. There was a knock at the door. Chloe stood in the doorway holding a thermos, her eyes red. Ethan frowned slightly and immediately got up to drape his coat over her shoulders. “Didn’t the doctor tell you to rest at home? Why did you come out?” “Aria got hurt so badly because of me. If I didn’t come visit her, I’d feel too guilty.” “Go get her medicine for me. I’ll take care of her here.” Ethan nodded and left the room. As soon as he left, Chloe’s face changed completely. She looked at me with disgust. “You’re so lucky. You actually survived.” I looked at her calmly. “You don’t really think Ethan would marry you if I died, do you?” “Stop dreaming. You have been hooking up with rich guys since college. Look at all those men who claimed to love you. Which one of them actually married you in the end?” Chloe got angry. A vicious smile curved her lips. “Really? How do you know he won’t marry me if we don’t try?” She unscrewed the thermos. The smell of fish soup filled the hospital room. But as soon as I smelled it, I couldn’t help covering my mouth to keep from gagging. I’m allergic to fish. Seeing Chloe pick up the thermos to throw it at me, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I reached out and shoved her away, then slapped her hard across the face! “Don’t touch me! Get out!” Chloe fell down on cue. The scalding hot soup spilled all over the floor. “Aria Bennett!” Ethan came back just in time to see Chloe on the ground with red eyes and a bright red handprint on her face. Anger surged in his chest. He picked her up and shielded her behind him. His voice was cold and impatient. “Haven’t you had enough? Chloe came here out of kindness to take care of you, and this is how you treat her!” “Just because you got hurt and she didn’t, you’re taking all your resentment out on her? When did you become so vicious!” Looking at the disappointment in Ethan’s eyes, I laughed coldly. “I’m vicious? Ethan Shaw, who do you think is responsible for my injuries? Do you even remember whose fiancée you are?” “I just can’t stand you being so unreasonable!” “I will never marry such a vicious woman! Reflect on your behavior. I’m postponing the wedding. When you realize your mistake and apologize to Chloe, then we’ll have the wedding!” Watching Ethan leave angrily with Chloe in his arms, I didn’t try to stop him. I quietly packed my things and took a cab straight to the airport. Mom and Dad were already waiting for me at the entrance. I opened my phone and saw that Ethan had sent me several more messages. “Chloe has been blaming herself and crying for days because of what happened to you. If you really have any conscience, come apologize to her.” “Aria, stop being so unreasonable. I’m only postponing the wedding, not canceling it. After ten years together, no one can take your place.” I laughed. Then I blocked him on everything. Thank god fate gave me a second chance. Thank god I finally woke up. Without Ethan Shaw, I know I’ll have a better life ahead. I pulled my suitcase behind me and walked decisively into a spring without Ethan Shaw.

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My boyfriend Ethan Blake was always busy with work. He set a rule with me that our dates couldn’t exceed one hour. On our fifth anniversary, I went to the restroom during dinner. When I came back, he’d already paid the bill. He said impatiently, “This date has already gone three minutes overtime. I don’t have time to stay with you.” I looked at the unopened cake sitting nearby. Calmly, I said, “Then I’ll take a cab home myself. You don’t need to give me a ride.” But the next day, I saw a reminder on his phone. [Cancel everything. Wait for Madison’s call.] So he did have time. He just didn’t want to spend it on me. In that case, I wouldn’t waste my life on him anymore. Ethan grunted in acknowledgment and turned to leave. No extra explanation. He didn’t even look back at me once. The waitress approached. “Excuse me, Mr. Blake only paid for his portion.” She paused, pushing another bill in front of me. “This is yours.” I stared at the numbers on the bill, precise to the decimal point, my fingers slowly curling. Even our anniversary dinner, he wanted to split. I swiped my card calmly. Walking out of the mall, a torrential rain poured down. The icy rain hammered against me as I stood by the roadside, watching taxis with their “occupied” lights speed past. On my phone screen, the ride-share app’s queue number didn’t budge. I retreated back to the mall lobby and found a corner seat, sitting alone until it got dark. The rain gradually lessened, and I finally got a ride. Back at our apartment complex, even the short walk left me completely soaked. I opened the door in a sorry state. The living room lights were off, pitch black. Only a box of fresh lychees sat on the dining table. I found it strange. Ethan had never bought me fruit before and didn’t know I liked lychees. The study door suddenly opened. Ethan said coldly, “Why did you call me earlier?” “That was my scheduled work time. I told you not to disturb me.” I gripped my phone, the screen still showing the unanswered call from half an hour ago. The rain had been pouring then. I just wanted to ask if he could bring an umbrella and meet me at the complex entrance. Now, I only said, “It was nothing.” “Don’t do meaningless things like that again.” He dropped that line. His gaze moved to the table. “Peel the lychees and put them in the fridge.” I asked, “For whom?” A trace of impatience entered his voice. “A colleague. Why are you asking so many questions?” A colleague. Who else besides Madison? The study door closed again. The living room was dark once more. I picked up the box of lychees, peeled one, and put it in my own mouth.

I didn’t touch any more, left them as they were, and walked into the bathroom. When I came out after showering, Ethan was on the phone on the balcony. The door wasn’t fully closed. His deliberately lowered voice drifted through the gap, carrying a gentleness and patience I’d never heard before. “The day after tomorrow morning? I have plans… Yeah, I can cancel them.” “Your car is more important. I’ll wait for your call. Let me know when it’s fixed.” I leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the floor. The day after tomorrow morning was our long-scheduled visit to a traveling exhibition by a painter I really loved. The painter had visited three times. I’d missed every single one. This time I’d scheduled a month in advance to finally get time with Ethan. He said he hated unplanned events. But apparently, he only hated unplanned me. When Ethan finished his call and returned to the bedroom, he saw several of my clothes draped over the closet door. They weren’t hung neatly. The corners crossed the dividing line he’d set. He frowned. “Put them away properly. This is messy.” I hummed softly in acknowledgment. Then I pulled out all the black, white, and gray clothes that matched Ethan’s aesthetic and threw them in the trash. Ethan watched my actions, his face showing no ripples of emotion. He didn’t ask why. He didn’t say a word. He just turned over, his back to me, and went to sleep. The next day, I woke up burning with fever. Last night’s rain had caught up with me after all. Ethan was already fully dressed, standing by the bed. “It’s seven fifteen. You didn’t prepare breakfast according to plan and disrupted my morning schedule.” My head was splitting. I tried to sit up, but my vision kept going black. He unlocked his phone screen and tapped on his notes app a few times. “Your relationship behavior score, minus five points.” I walked out of the bedroom in a daze. On the dining table was his finished breakfast plate. Fried eggs, toast, milk. The same as his usual. But there was no plate for me. In the laundry basket, the shirt and dress pants he’d changed out of yesterday were gone. But my soaked dress still lay there quietly. He’d only washed his own clothes. I forced myself to take a cab to the nearest hospital. The emergency room was noisy and chaotic. I felt weak all over from the fever. The doctor prescribed medication and put me on an IV drip. After taking my temperature, she said, “102.5 degrees. We need a family member to stay with you and sign.” I gripped my phone, hesitating for a long time before finally calling Ethan. The phone rang for ages before someone picked up. “What is it?” My voice was hoarse. “I’m at the hospital. I have a fever. The doctor says they need a family member…” “You’ve seen my schedule. This morning is completely booked.” He cut me off. “It’ll only take a little of your time. Just to sign.” Silence on the other end for a few seconds. “I can spare forty minutes at most. Twenty minutes round trip from the office to the hospital. Twenty minutes for care.” I closed my eyes and said softly, “Okay.” “Could you buy me a hot water bottle from the hospital convenience store?” The call ended. A moment later, my phone buzzed. It was a link to a delivery app from Ethan. “You can order one for delivery.” Ten minutes later, Ethan appeared in the ward right on time. He signed the form, took out his laptop, and started working. The medication dripped into my body drop by drop. My arm was numb with cold. Looking at Ethan’s tightly pressed lips nearby, I didn’t speak. I ordered a hot water bottle. The nurse came to change the IV and saw my hand, frowning. “Why is it so swollen? Are you allergic?” Only then did I notice my hand was covered in a large red rash, itchy and painful.

Just then, Ethan’s phone alarm went off. He closed his laptop, didn’t even glance at me, stood up, and left. I instinctively called out, “Ethan, my hand…” He stopped and looked back at my swollen hand. “Time’s up. I have an important industry conference this afternoon.” Then he turned and walked away. The nurse, unable to watch anymore, pressed the call button for me. An elderly woman in the next bed handed me a hot water bottle. “Here, dear, use mine.” The doctor and nurses rushed over, changing my IV and treating the allergic reaction. I lay alone in the hospital bed, enduring the worst hours. By evening, the fever finally broke a little. I leaned against the headboard, mindlessly scrolling through my phone. On Instagram, Madison had posted several updates that afternoon. Every post showed Ethan playing with her golden retriever. In the photos, his face showed a smile, patient and focused. I looked at the swelling on my hand that still hadn’t gone down and the bruises left by the IV. Then I opened a secondhand trading platform. I listed the matching smartwatch Ethan had specially customized for me. That electronic shackle designed to accommodate all his schedules, reminding me every moment what I should be doing. I didn’t need it anymore. After leaving the hospital, I packed up everything I’d bought according to Ethan’s preferences, one by one. His preferences, the rules he’d set, his whole aesthetic—all went into boxes. The apartment was half empty, but I felt an indescribable lightness. At dawn, when Ethan got up, he didn’t find the glass of water at the perfect 113-degree temperature on his nightstand. Walking into the closet, there was no ironed shirt either. He habitually checked his watch. “Your slacking today has delayed my morning routine by eight minutes.” I sat at the dining table, eating the pancakes and coffee he’d never allowed me to touch. Steaming hot, it was a long-missed aroma of real food. I didn’t even look up. “That’s your own problem.” Ethan’s face darkened. He probably thought I was still throwing a tantrum about our anniversary. He said nothing more, got his own water and found his own clothes with a cold face, then slammed the door on his way out. That afternoon, the door lock clicked. Ethan had brought Madison home. He had a strong sense of territory and had set a hard rule against letting outsiders into the apartment. Once my best friend was going through a breakup and came to stay for just one night, and he sent her away on the spot with a cold face. But now, Madison was wearing my slippers, sitting on my couch as if she owned the place. She held a box of ice cream. Cream dripped onto the carpet, leaving large stains. Ethan saw it. He just walked over and gently handed her a wet wipe. “Be careful. Don’t get it on your hands.” Not a hint of reproach. But last time when I accidentally spilled a few drops of coffee, he threw away my entire coffee set. Along with the coffee beans I’d painstakingly collected from all over the country. I ignored them, continuing to pack my things, putting the last few books into a box. Madison stood up curiously and walked straight into my studio. “Wow, you’re so talented.” The paint I’d arranged by color system according to Ethan’s requirements was now a mess from her handling. She held a cup of coffee, walking with interest toward my easel. The next second, her hand tilted. An entire cup of coffee spilled onto the painting I’d spent six months on. That was my work. I’d prepared for half a year to enter it in a competition. Hearing the commotion, Ethan came in. Seeing the mess everywhere, he blamed me first.

“I told you to take proper protective measures.” Then he softly comforted Madison. “It’s just a worthless piece of paper with no commercial value. No big deal if it’s ruined.” Looking at the painting, completely disfigured by coffee stains, I felt not even a trace of heartache. I picked up the painting and stuffed it into the paper shredder in the corner. The machine roared to life. I looked at Ethan’s shocked face and smiled calmly. “You’re right. Just waste paper. Should’ve thrown it out long ago.” That evening, Ethan did something rare and apologized to me. “I didn’t mean your painting was garbage,” he explained. “I was just trying to comfort Madison.” “Make a list of whatever materials you need to repaint. I’ll have someone get them.” How rare. In the past five years, he’d never cared what I lacked or needed for painting. In fact, he didn’t even know what I was painting. This concern I’d waited so long for finally arrived, but I only found it annoying. I turned over and refused. “No need.” The next day, I had to pick up my grandmother’s belongings. Ethan had promised to take me, but with Madison around, I didn’t expect him to actually go with me. But Ethan kept reminding me from the moment he woke up. “We’re going to get your grandmother’s things later. Don’t be late.” He paused and added, “Even if you’re late, it’s fine. I’ve cleared my whole morning.” I looked at the inexplicable emotion in his eyes, not understanding what it was. Guilt? I’d lost more than just one painting over five years. Why bother? On the way to the watch shop, Ethan’s phone rang. It was Madison. With tears in her voice, she said the exhibition model she was responsible for had the wrong dimensions and the client was giving her hell on-site. She urgently needed Ethan to come support her. According to Ethan’s rule of never getting involved in other people’s basic mistakes, he should have refused. Just like he’d refused to bring me my admission ticket, causing me to miss the research institute exam. But I knew. The caller was Madison. Sure enough, without a moment’s hesitation, Ethan made an illegal U-turn right on the highway bridge. Sharp honking erupted behind us. I watched the route on the GPS instantly veer off course and reminded him, “The watch shop closes at five.” His voice was ice cold. “A broken watch won’t disappear if you pick it up late, but Madison’s project involves millions in company profits.” “Your emotional outbursts are seriously interfering with my efficiency. Can’t you tell which is more important?” The car stopped outside the exhibition hall. The sky had darkened at some point, and rain began to fall. Ethan unbuckled his seatbelt. “Wait in the car. I’ll be quick. I’ll take you to get the watch as soon as I’m done.” With that, he locked the car and walked toward Madison, who was waiting anxiously at the entrance. I watched the time on the dashboard tick by, second by second. Forty-five minutes passed. Two hours passed. The sky grew dark. Through the blurred rain, I could see Ethan on the second floor by the floor-to-ceiling windows, bent over, patiently helping Madison revise blueprints. On the table sat an elegant dessert box he’d specially ordered for Madison. But in the car, there wasn’t even a bottle of water. That alarm of his that always went off on time, reminding him which step of his schedule to proceed with— For Madison, he’d turned it off too. His phone was completely silenced. No one could disturb their time. Much less my calls. The sky turned completely dark. Seven whole hours. The watch shop owner sent a final message: [We’ve already closed. I’ll keep your things for now, but I’m leaving town tomorrow.]

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At old Alpha Eldric’s hundredth birthday feast for the Silverpine Pack, my husband’s cousin Lola showed up cradling a newborn baby boy and slammed a genetic report right in my face. Her face was still pale from childbirth. In front of all the pack leaders and elders, she smiled with smug satisfaction. “Seren, my son with Eliot is the first legitimate heir of the Silverpine Pack.” “If you’re smart, you’ll step down as Luna on your own. I might even let you be the godmother.” The entire hall erupted in chaos. Everyone knew the iron law old Alpha Eldric had established: the first person in the family to produce offspring would inherit millions of acres of prime hunting territory. But Eliot and I had barely seen each other since our marriage. Three years in, and I still hadn’t gotten pregnant. In a werewolf pack where bloodline was everything, a Luna who couldn’t produce pups had no ground to stand on. Especially when that Luna was just an ordinary human without a drop of werewolf blood. Just when everyone present thought I was about to be kicked out of Silverpine Pack, I stared at the tiny, inconspicuous text on the last line of the report and suddenly smiled.

The genetic match report hit my face, papers scattering across the floor. The hall, which should have been full of celebration, fell deathly silent in an instant. Lola stood in the center of the hall wearing a blindingly white gauze dress, holding the newborn baby. Her smile stretched practically to her temples. She deliberately raised her voice high, as if afraid Alpha Eldric in the seat of honor wouldn’t hear. “Seren, don’t blame me. After all, my child is the only legitimate bloodline of Silverpine Pack. He has to come back and be recognized.” Eldric sat in his wheelchair, his clouded eyes opening slightly. He looked at the child in Lola’s arms, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. He said nothing. Every guest in the hall turned their gaze toward me. Each one waited to see how I, the human woman who’d held the Luna position for three years without getting pregnant, would be publicly humiliated and driven from the pack in disgrace. I bent down and picked up the report from the floor. My eyes scanned the nearly invisible line of text in the corner, and I suddenly smiled. I looked at the smug Lola and spoke calmly. “This child can never inherit any of Eldric’s assets.” Lola scoffed at my words, thinking I was just putting on a brave face. “Seren, don’t tell me being Silverpine Pack’s Luna has made you stupid.” “The genetic report says it clear as day. Eliot is this child’s biological father.” “According to Alpha Eldric’s iron law, the first offspring in the family inherits all of Silverpine Pack’s resources.” “If you request to leave Silverpine Pack now, I’ll even let the child recognize you as godmother.” Just as Lola finished speaking, Eliot’s mother Elara’s voice came from outside the door. “My dear Lola, I heard you brought my grandson. Let me see him.” The moment Elara saw the baby, she rushed over. “The resemblance! Incredible! Just like Eliot when he was little! This is definitely Silverpine Pack blood!” Afraid I would cause trouble, Elara immediately called two guards to stand in front of me. “This is the pack’s precious treasure. We must take good care of him.” Then she immediately switched to a loving expression and pulled Lola toward Alpha Eldric. “Lola, you’re a hero to our Pack. Sit down and rest, don’t tire yourself.” “I’ll call the council of elders right now to transfer the inheritance rights to you!” Then she turned and shot me a disgusted glance. “Unlike some people who can’t even lay an egg after three years.” “If I were you, I’d pack up and leave now to save myself the embarrassment of being thrown out of Silverpine Pack.” But I just stared fixedly at the baby in the nanny’s arms. “No need to call the elders, because she can’t get this inheritance at all.” Lola looked me up and down, speaking as if bestowing charity. “Seren, face reality. You’re just a lowly human without our noble wolf bloodline.” “Everyone knows what tricks you used to marry Eliot back then.” “But lowly is lowly. Only a pure-blooded wolf like me deserves to bear Silverpine Pack’s heir.” The whispered discussions in the hall grew louder. Everyone had different thoughts, their eyes darting between Lola and me. After all, this was the richest hunting territory and mineral veins in the North, spanning millions of acres. Countless packs were envious. Whoever could claim it would become the most powerful Luna in the North. “This is Eldric’s family feast. What are you all causing a scene for?” Eliot’s father Gideon pushed through the crowd. When he saw the child in Lola’s arms, his previously tense face instantly bloomed into a smile. “We’ve been waiting for you! Alpha Eldric has been hoping for an heir so long his eyes nearly wore out! The council of elders is already on their way. We’ll announce the inheritance publicly. No one can find fault with that!” Elara hurriedly scooped up some herbal medicine and brought it to Lola’s lips. “This is freshly brewed precious herbs. Drink up.” “You’re a great hero to our Silverpine Pack. You need to nourish your body properly.” I looked at the three people in front of me, acting like a harmonious family. The sight was painfully glaring. “Mom, Dad, setting aside that Eliot and I aren’t even divorced yet.” “Are you really so certain she can claim Alpha Eldric’s assets?” Hearing this, Lola nearly spat out the herbal medicine in her mouth. She pushed past Gideon and Elara, walked up to me holding the child, the viciousness in her eyes completely unconcealed. “So what if you’re not divorced? Silverpine Pack would never keep a barren slut!” “Who knows what you were doing coming home so late every night? You probably can’t get pregnant because you’ve been fooling around with other Alphas.” “When my son grows up, he’ll never marry a lowly human like you.” Elara helped Lola sit down, glanced at me and sneered. “Exactly! This child looks just like Eliot as a baby. If he’s not our Silverpine Pack blood, whose could he be?” “Some people’s bodies just can’t deliver, and they can’t stand to see others succeed!” Lola’s face filled with smugness again. “Seren, I know you’re upset that I gave birth to Eliot’s son.” “But genetic test results can’t be faked. Are you jealous that I produced a child?”

The murmurs spread like a tide. The words from the branch family members grew more and more cutting. “No wonder Eliot married her three years ago with no results. Turns out the human woman’s private life isn’t clean, so she can’t conceive pure blood!” “Thank goodness Lola came through and gave birth to a pure-blooded grandson, or Silverpine Pack’s legitimate bloodline would’ve been cut off by this human!” “I think she’s gone crazy with jealousy and is deliberately slandering them!” Hearing this, Lola’s eyes instantly reddened. She leaned into Elara’s arms, her sobbing voice carrying throughout the hall. “Please don’t say that, everyone. Seren is just feeling unbalanced right now. I don’t mind. As long as the child can be properly recognized, I can endure any amount of grievance.” As she spoke, she cast a timid glance at me, looking for all the world like I had mistreated her somehow. Elara’s face instantly twisted with distress, her voice rising so loud it hurt people’s ears. “Who dares make my precious grandson suffer even a little? I’ll tear their mouth off first!” “Look at these eyes, this nose! It’s like Eliot as a baby was carved from the same mold! Does it even need testing? If this isn’t our Silverpine Pack’s own grandson, whose could it be!” I looked at her vicious expression before me, feeling a bone-deep chill in my heart. She used to always smile kindly when she saw me, calling me “good child” constantly. I’d sincerely treated her like my own mother. But now, for the sake of a child of unknown origin, she looked at me like she wanted to devour me. Gideon’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. He slammed his hand on the table and roared at the guards. “What are you standing there for! Drag this crazy woman out! Don’t let her ruin Alpha Eldric’s celebration!” I looked around, staring hard at Gideon and Elara. “You really think just because Lola gave birth to a son, she can claim Eldric’s inheritance?” “Even if the council of elders comes, she won’t get a single penny!” The air froze for an instant, so quiet you could only hear breathing. Gideon was so angry his cane pounded hard on the floor, his face turning the color of liver. “Outrageous! Outrageous! Drag her out! I don’t want to see this lunatic anymore!” Two guards immediately stepped forward to grab my arms. I suppressed my anger and shook them off hard. “Don’t touch me. I’m pregnant.” I pulled out my pregnancy test results from my bag and slapped them on the table with a “thwack.” The black text on white paper was crystal clear: twelve weeks pregnant, fetus developing normally. Gideon and Elara exchanged glances and laughed coldly. Lola reached out and snatched the pregnancy test results. After looking for a few seconds, she burst out laughing. “So what if you’re pregnant?” “My child is the first one born in the family.” “What right do you have to compete with me for the inheritance?” She turned toward Alpha Eldric, who had remained silent in the seat of honor. She stepped forward holding the child and dropped to her knees on the carpet with a thud, her voice choked with emotion. “Alpha Eldric, please grant justice for me and the child. I don’t ask for status. I only ask that you recognize this legitimate Silverpine Pack bloodline and don’t let him wander outside.” This act of kneeling completely ignited the emotions in the hall. Gideon immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Eldric. “Father, Lola has given birth to Silverpine Pack’s only legitimate heir. This is cause for great celebration. Please announce on the spot that you recognize this child and make Lola Eliot’s Luna to oversee the inheritance matters!” Elara also quickly knelt down. “Yes, Father! You’ve waited so many years for this day!” The branch family members also chimed in. “Please, Alpha Eldric, recognize the heir!” Everyone’s gaze focused on Eldric in the wheelchair. Alpha Eldric’s fingers continued tapping lightly on the armrest. His eyes slowly swept over Lola kneeling on the ground, the Gideon couple, and finally landed on me. He didn’t speak immediately. The entire banquet hall was utterly silent. Meeting his gaze, I spoke calmly. “Alpha Eldric, I object. This child has no right to inherit any of your assets or authority.” “You’re talking nonsense!” Lola screamed, raising her head. “The report says it plain as day. He’s Eliot’s biological son!” She moved to hand the test report up to him. “I’m not talking nonsense.” “If you don’t believe me, run the genetic test again.” Gideon flew into a rage, pointing at my nose and cursing. “Seren, don’t push your luck! Putting a newborn baby through testing, what are your intentions? I say he’s legitimate, so he’s legitimate!” “My intention is to protect the legitimate bloodline.” I stared back at him unflinchingly. “Does Gideon want to violate the iron law Alpha Eldric personally established for the sake of a child of unknown origin?” “You—” Gideon’s whole body shook with rage. He raised his hand to strike me. “Stop.”

An aged but extremely authoritative voice suddenly rang out. Eldric finally spoke. Gideon’s hand froze in mid-air, not daring to move an inch. Alpha Eldric slowly raised his head and looked at the elder standing to the side. “Go get Dr. Reed and bring a complete set of genetic sequencing equipment. Right here. Test on the spot.” His gaze fell on Lola’s pale face, his tone devoid of any emotion. “An iron law is an iron law. Whether or not he’s my biological grandson, the instruments will tell. If he is, I’ll recognize this grandson on the spot and all inheritance rights go to him. If not—” He paused, his eyes suddenly becoming sharp as knives. “Anyone who dares forge reports and deceive the pack will be dealt with according to pack law.” The entire hall erupted in chaos. Lola collapsed on the ground. The baby in her arms started wailing from fright. And I stood in place, looking into Alpha Eldric’s deep eyes, and breathed a soft sigh of relief. Half an hour later, Dr. Reed strode in with an anxious expression, two assistants following behind him. I stared fixedly at the child in Lola’s arms. “Full genetic testing. Check thoroughly!” Elara grabbed Dr. Reed’s hand worriedly. “Dr. Reed, will all this testing on such a small child cause problems?” Dr. Reed said nothing. He just took the child. His assistants set up the instruments and began a thorough examination. Soon, Dr. Reed removed his testing glasses. “The child is very healthy. You don’t need to worry.” Lola’s expression relaxed. “See? During pregnancy, I specially went deep into the mountains for a three-thousand-year-old wolf clan folk remedy. How could there be problems with the child?” Hearing this, Elara patted her chest and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Gideon’s eyes went round with fury. “Smack!” A slap sent my ears ringing. “Seren, I’ve treated you well for the sake of you being my daughter-in-law. Don’t be ungrateful!” “My grandson is perfectly healthy. If you curse him again, Silverpine Pack doesn’t take that lightly!” With that, he threw a mate dissolution agreement in front of me. “Sign it, then get lost back to your human world.” The slap on my face burned painfully. But the pain couldn’t match the coldness in my heart. “I won’t sign. I have to wait for the genetic test results.” At those words, Elara also flew into a rage. “Crazy woman! Eliot’s eyes, Eliot’s nose—can’t I recognize my own son’s features?” Lola’s eyes turned red. She rushed forward, her hands clamping down hard on my shoulders. “You think I forged the genetic identification report? You think everyone is as disgusting as you?!” “Fine! I’ll let you die understanding today!” She whipped her head around and barked at Dr. Reed. “Isn’t it just genetic identification? Do it now!” Then she glared at me viciously, like a demon from hell. “If the identification results confirm the child is Eliot’s.” “You, Seren, will abort the baby in your belly, sign the mate dissolution agreement, and leave Silverpine Pack completely!” Neither Gideon nor Elara objected. I clenched my fists tightly, unprecedented emotions surging through me. If I really backed down, Eliot would have his Luna switched without knowing, and gain a son who couldn’t inherit anything.

Before I could agree, Elara grabbed me with undisguised disgust and dragged me to the makeshift medical room. “I want to see what else you have to say!” Dr. Reed and his two assistants quickly set up the testing equipment. Everyone present stared fixedly at the operating platform. A young assistant in a white coat rushed in, carrying a sealed sample bag. “Dr. Reed, we’ve obtained Alpha Eliot’s hair sample.” My heart stirred slightly. I’d never seen this assistant before. The one who usually followed Dr. Reed was a different, older assistant. But before I could think further, Dr. Reed had already taken the sample and begun testing. During the wait for results, the room was deathly silent. All the elders and branch family of Silverpine Pack sat in a row, staring at me with dark expressions. As if I weren’t Silverpine Pack’s Luna, but some heinous criminal. Eldric in the seat of honor coughed lightly. No one dared speak. I looked at the hateful faces before me, unable to suppress the turmoil in my heart. One of Silverpine Pack’s elders sneered with narrowed eyes. “When the results come out, let’s see what you have to say.” After what felt like forever, the machine emitted a cold notification sound. One test report after another was printed out. A sharp beep sounded. The top clearly displayed: “Genetic testing confirms biological father-son relationship between male infant and Eliot.” “See that! This is my biological grandson!” Elara was the first to rush forward and snatch the report, her voice piercingly shrill. “Seren, what do you have to say now! You jealous woman!” Gideon let out a long breath, his face showing uncontrollable satisfaction. “Wonderful! Silverpine Pack finally has a legitimate heir!” Elara grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the vehicle outside the door. “Go to the medical center right now and abort that bastard in your belly! Sign the dissolution agreement and get lost back to your human society!” “Wait! Let me go!” I struggled desperately, my nails digging deep into her arm. “This test report has problems!” “Still stubborn!” Lola kicked me hard from behind. I lost my balance and my forehead slammed hard into the metal table edge. My vision instantly blurred. Two guards held me and dragged me toward the car. In desperation, I used all my strength to shout at Dr. Reed. “Dr. Reed! Read the complete report! There’s additional testing below!” Lola’s expression changed. She shouted sharply. “Don’t listen to her nonsense! The paternity is already confirmed. What additional items are there to look at! Drag her away quickly!” Dr. Reed bent down and picked up the complete report scattered on the floor. The next second, his face suddenly turned deathly pale, his breathing instantly rapid. He rushed forward and blocked the vehicle that had already started, pounding hard on the windshield. “Wait! Stop! You can’t abort the child! There’s a problem with the report!” “Luna Seren’s child is Silverpine Pack’s last hope. You can’t abort it!” “No one can leave!” The vehicle stopped. Gideon looked impatient. “Dr. Reed, you did the identification yourself. What problem could there be!” “This male infant is Silverpine Pack’s pure-blooded heir!” Dr. Reed swallowed with difficulty and handed over the identification report in his hand. “You should look at this first before making a decision.” “Hmph! Let me see what tricks you’re playing!” Gideon impatiently took it. The next second, his eyes suddenly widened!

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I am the Matriarch of all Lycans — ancient beyond counting, immortal, ageless. The Lycan keeps me hidden within the palace, a sacred relic they parade as their good-luck charm. I have guided every Lycan King across the centuries. I devised their strategies, advised their wars, and carved out kingdoms from nothing. Then a new Luna arrived. The moment the Lycan King stepped away, she kicked open my chamber door. “I always wondered what kind of cheap little whore had the King running to this corner of the palace every day,” she spat, stepping inside as though she owned every stone beneath her feet. “You don’t even have a title. You’re nothing but the lowest mistress around here. Disgusting.” I almost laughed. My great-great-grandson — who is barely a thousand years younger than I am — would make me his mistress? The thought alone was absurd. Beside me, my handmaiden tugged anxiously at my sleeve, dropping her voice to a whisper. “Matriarch, please don’t let it upset you. When the King returns, he’ll set things right for you…” I smiled, rose from my chaise, and smoothed my robe. Whether the King set things right was the least of my concerns. After all, whoever sat on the throne of this kingdom — that was my decision to make. Word had reached me that Alpha Lucas had returned to the capital just days ago, victorious from the northern campaign. That boy. I had raised him with my own hands. He had ten times more sense than this Lycan King. … I had no interest in wasting breath on such a foolish creature. I tilted my chin toward my handmaiden. “Elara. Go deliver a message.” “Go to Alpha Lucas’s pack. Tell him my peace has been disturbed, and I’d like him to come collect me.” The Luna blinked — then burst into laughter, doubling over and clutching her stomach. “I didn’t realize the palace had produced such a character. Invoking Alpha Lucas, of all people.” “Do you have any idea who Alpha Lucas is? He is the Lycan King’s own uncle. He commands five hundred thousand elite warriors. And you — a nameless, titleless nothing — think you’re worthy of being collected by him?” Those five hundred thousand warriors were mine to begin with. I trained them personally and passed them to Alpha Lucas when he came of age. He had begged me for years to come live at his pack. But the Lycan King had been young and fumbling on the throne, running to me every single day with questions. I had declined out of obligation. I said nothing to the Luna. I simply glanced at Elara. Elara finally snapped to attention and hurried toward the door. “Stop.” The Luna’s voice cracked like a whip. The attendant at her side moved instantly to block Elara’s path. “I have not given permission to leave. Since when do handmaidens walk wherever they please? Have you no sense of order?” I reclined against the chaise and watched the scene unfold with quiet eyes. A thousand years. I had seen this exact performance more times than I could count. Every generation, someone new had to try it. The Luna noticed that Elara would not answer her, and her interest sharpened. She turned toward me, wearing a grin. “Oh, how loyal. Your mistress stays silent, so you stay silent too. Tell me — do you both think you’ve found someone important to hide behind?” “I’m genuinely curious about you,” she continued, prowling closer. “What exactly is your story? The King is here every other day. He skipped the Lycan royal’s anniversary banquet. He walked out of a council session mid-deliberation because someone told him you weren’t feeling well.” “I expected some breathtaking beauty. But looking at you now…” She shrugged. “Nothing special.” I kept the amusement off my face. Of course the King put my wellbeing first. Without me, he would never have clawed his way onto that throne as a weak werewolf of a lesser line. And he certainly would not have kept it. The Luna stepped closer and cupped my chin in her fingers, forcing my head up. “Let me guess,” she said, studying me. “Is it that you’re exceptional in bed? Or did you use some kind of spell — slip something into his drink to keep him crawling back?” I let her hold my chin. I smiled. “How old are you, Luna?” She blinked, thrown off by the question. She answered before she could stop herself. “Eighteen.” “Eighteen.” I nodded slowly. “When I was your age, your great-great-great-great-grandfather was still in diapers.” Silence settled over the room like snowfall. The Luna’s expression traveled from confusion, to blankness, to fury. “You — you dare insult me?!” She raised her hand to strike.

I did not move out of the way. Not because I couldn’t. After a thousand years of living, there was not a soul in this palace fast enough to touch even the hem of my robe if I chose otherwise. But I suddenly remembered the last time I had been struck. More than four hundred years ago. A Lycan Queen, just as entitled, just as blind to her own smallness. She had stormed through my door the same way. Called me the same names. She later spent an entire night on her knees outside my chamber, forehead to the ground, begging me to put in a good word for her with the King. The slap landed. My cheek burned. I lay against the chaise and let it hurt, and I thought: four hundred years, and these people have learned absolutely nothing. The Luna froze after hitting me. “Why didn’t you dodge?” I looked at her. I didn’t answer. Something in my gaze unsettled her. Her humiliation curdled into rage, and she lunged forward, grabbing my collar. “What kind of look is that? I hit you and you look at me like that?” Elara was frantic on the other side of the room — trying to push past the much larger attendant, unable to break through, her voice cracking with tears. “My Lady! You can’t do this! You really cannot — she’s not — she isn’t—” The attendant moved before Elara could finish. A single strike, precise and brutal. Elara crumpled to the floor, unconscious. The fist I had tucked inside my sleeve tightened. A thousand years. I had made my peace with loss long ago. The handmaidens in my life came and went like tides — each one a brief shimmer in the long river of time, and then gone. But that did not mean I would stand by while they suffered for serving me. The Luna noticed my reaction. Her eyes lit up as though she had found something delightful. “Oh. That hurt you, didn’t it?” She released my collar and strolled to where Elara lay, nudging the girl’s face with the toe of her shoe. “She’s just a handmaiden. Is she really worth your feelings?” “Luna.” My voice was even. “Does the Lycan King know what you’re doing here today?” She paused. “The King? He’s in council with his advisors right now. No time to worry about something as small as you.” “And even if he knew — do you really think he’d pick a nameless, titleless thing like you over me?” I said nothing. She seemed to remember something then, and turned to her attendant with a curious frown. “Actually — how long has she been in this palace? What exactly is she?” The attendant smiled nervously. “My Lady, I looked into it. She has no rank, no title. Everyone in the palace calls her the King’s… outside mistress.” The Luna’s face transformed. She laughed until her sides shook. “A mistress? An outside mistress? All this time I thought she was someone, and she can’t even claim the lowest rank among the mistress!” I rose slowly to my feet. She took one instinctive step back. “What do you think you’re doing?” “Only trying to tell you something, Luna,” I said, unhurried. “You are eighteen. That is a young and beautiful age — a time when life has given you everything and asked nothing in return. You grew up cherished. Nothing has broken you yet.” Something almost like pride crossed her face. “Naturally. My father and brother gave me everything I ever wanted.” “Which is exactly why,” I continued, “you do not yet know which words must never be spoken, which lines must never be crossed, and which people must never be provoked. You need know which is your power and rights boundry.” “Leave room with your respect, Luna. The bridges you burn today are the ones you may need to cross tomorrow.” She stared at me for a moment. Then she laughed again, high and sharp. “You — a mistress without even a name to call your own — are lecturing me about power and rights?”

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I spent two years as a human punching bag in underground fight clubs. Finally scraped together enough for my son’s surgery. Then my wife gave it away to her childhood friend. For the fifth time. Fifty thousand dollars. Not a penny more, not a penny less. But this time, my organs were wrecked beyond repair. I’d never earn another fifty grand. I cornered Harvey in his hospital room, still clutching my bloody boxing gloves. “Give me back my son’s money! He’s dying of heart failure!” Vivian sighed. She convinced Harvey to return it. But the day Ryan was rushed into emergency surgery, the payment bounced. Insufficient funds. That same day, Harvey updated his social media. [Some psycho tried to scare me today. Good thing I’ve got this $50k watch to cheer me up. My girl’s the best—real ones know how to treat their childhood friends right!] I called Vivian over and over. When she finally picked up, all I got was a lecture. “Jason, you were too aggressive that day. You terrified Harvey so badly that he had an episode. I need to stay with him while he recovers.” “I’m a doctor—I know Ryan’s condition better than anyone. He’s not that fragile. He can hold on a little longer.” “Once my research grant comes through, I’ll get him into surgery immediately.” I hung up. Calm. Empty. With what little money I had left, I purchased a double burial plot. Holding my son’s cold, stiffening body, I sent Vivian one last text. “Vivian. I want a divorce.” I’d barely confirmed the burial plot when Vivian’s call came through. “Stop being dramatic, Jason. Harvey had a heart attack that day—you scared him half to death. His condition was way more critical than Ryan’s.” “Ryan has a chronic condition. A few more days won’t hurt.” “Once Harvey stabilizes, I’ll figure out the money for surgery.” Critical? How critical could a man be if he just bought a fifty-thousand-dollar watch? All I could see was Ryan’s face in those final moments. He’d tugged weakly at my sleeve. “Daddy… if Mommy comes, will the pain stop?” “It’s okay if it hurts. I just want her to visit me… I want to see her one more time before I fall asleep.” He never got to. My throat tightened. “We don’t need your help anymore.” “Vivian, answer me honestly. Does Harvey matter more to you than your own husband and son?” Her voice was sharp with impatience. “Jason, Harvey and I have been friends for decades. He got his heart condition because he shielded me from human traffickers when we were kids. They beat him so badly his heart never recovered.” “I owe him. Can’t you just understand that?” In the background, I heard Harvey’s whiny complaint. “Your husband bothering you again? God, he’s so annoying. Can’t he grow up?” Vivian’s tone softened immediately. “You’re right, you’re right. No one’s as good as you.” “Don’t get worked up, baby. Your heart can’t take it.” Then Harvey sent me a private message. “Yo, Jason, I just overheard. Actually, Vivian’s got money—she just dumps it all into research. I suggested she ‘borrow’ yours instead.” “Didn’t think she’d actually go through with it lol. If you really need it back ASAP, I can tell her to return it.” “She’s being kinda shitty to you, not gonna lie. Want me to yell at her for you?” Tears dripped onto my phone screen. Every time Vivian got her hospital bonus, Harvey would “borrow” it for his treatments. She always said she owed him. That she’d do anything he asked. So when Ryan got worse and we had no money, I had no choice. I became a punching bag to pay for surgery. My phone buzzed. A message from the fight club manager. “Jason. Got a big spender tonight. Yeah, he hits hard—but he pays harder. One hour and you’ll have enough for your kid’s surgery. You coming or not? Offer won’t last.” Before, I would’ve jumped at this. No matter how badly my insides were already damaged, I was always first in line. Now, Ryan’s cold body pressed against me like ice seeping into my bones. “Not coming.” “Never again.” I ignored the flood of question marks that followed. The morgue was freezing. Ryan hated the cold. He must be so uncomfortable. I forced a smile at the nurse. “Could I borrow a blanket? My son gets cold easily.” The nurse’s face softened with pity. She brought me a brand-new fleece blanket. “Here, sir. Let the little one rest comfortably.” I whispered my thanks. She waved it off. “If you want to thank someone, thank Dr. Vivian Parker from our hospital. She’s got a friend staying here as a patient.” “To make sure we’d take extra good care of him, Dr. Parker spent thousands on gifts for the entire staff. This blanket alone costs a few hundred dollars.” “Spending that much on him? I bet he’s her boyfriend.” I froze. I thought of those days when Ryan was dying—when I went on my knees begging doctors for help, scraping together pennies, drowning in desperation. Tears streamed down my face before I could stop them. “Yeah. Thanks to Dr. Parker.” My hands shook as I wrapped Ryan in the blanket. The nurse looked at me with unbearable sympathy. “Where’s the child’s mother? Why isn’t she here at a time like this? If she could’ve scraped together the money, you wouldn’t have lost him to something as treatable as surgery…” I smiled bitterly. “His mother? She’s gone.” The nurse started to apologize, then fell silent. She didn’t know what else to say. As I stumbled through the paperwork, I turned a corner—and ran straight into Vivian. She was rushing down the hall, pushing Harvey in a wheelchair at full speed. She barreled into me so hard I slammed sideways into the wall. “Get out of the way!” My head cracked against the concrete. Blood trickled down my forehead. Vivian didn’t even glance back to see who she’d hit. She just kept running, screaming at a doctor up ahead. “Dr. Walker! Harvey needs a cardiac exam—NOW!” I slid down the wall, curling into myself as pain wracked my body. I sat there for a long time. Eventually, Harvey came back with Vivian in tow. “See? I told you that you hit someone. You should apologize. The doctor said I’m fine—I’m a grown man, I can handle a little scare.” He glanced down. His eyes met mine. “Oh. Wait… the guy you just mowed down is Jason?”

Vivian’s face shifted. Guilt flickered across her expression as she reached down to help me up. But Harvey’s eyes glinted. He cut in smoothly. “Jason, Vivian barely touched you. Why’d you fall over like that? You mad because she came with me to the doctor? Don’t be so petty, man.” He gave Vivian a little nudge. “Go on. Go make up with him.” Vivian’s outstretched hand froze mid-air. She frowned at me instead. “Seriously, Jason? I didn’t even push you that hard. Are you really throwing a tantrum over fifty thousand dollars again?” My heart felt like it had turned to ice. I braced myself against the wall and tried to stand, but my legs buckled. I stumbled forward—toward Harvey. He jerked back immediately, pinching his nose. “Dude, what is that smell? You reek.” “Vivian’s a doctor, for God’s sake. Jason, look at yourself…” Vivian wrinkled her nose in disgust, taking in my exhausted, filthy appearance. “Jason, you’re a mess. You seriously stink. Why didn’t you go home and shower?!” Since Ryan died, I’d been holding him. Holding him until his body started to decompose. Rage boiled up inside me. I wanted to scream at her. “Yeah. That’s the smell of YOUR son.” But before I could, a nurse walked by and lit up at the sight of Vivian. “Oh! Dr. Parker! I thought you were off today. What are you doing here?” The nurse’s curious gaze bounced between the three of us before landing on me. “And who’s this?” For years, Vivian insisted that doctors needed to avoid nepotism. She said if people at the hospital knew she had a son and was still doting on Harvey, there’d be rumors. People would talk. So she never told anyone at work about Ryan or me. Vivian’s expression darkened. Panic flashed in her eyes. “Oh. Harvey’s staying here as a patient. This is… the caregiver I hired for him.” I stood there, frozen. Every word I wanted to say died in my throat. Once the nurse was out of earshot, Vivian exhaled in relief. She stepped toward me, trying to pull me into a hug. “Jason, I didn’t mean it like that. Doctors just have to maintain a certain image—” I laughed. Cold and bitter. “What image?” Harvey snorted. “Come on, Jason. Vivian’s a respected doctor at this hospital. Look at you—you’re dressed like a homeless guy. You want people to know she’s married to that? You’d embarrass her.” Vivian said nothing. Her silence was agreement. I clenched my faded, threadbare shirt in my fists. My eyes locked onto the diamond-studded watch glittering on Harvey’s wrist. That watch was bought with my broken body. With my son’s life. The hatred inside me exploded. I swung. But before my fist even touched him, Harvey let out a bloodcurdling scream. “Vivian! My heart—it hurts! Don’t let him hit me!” CRACK. Before I could process what happened, Vivian’s hand flew across my face. The slap sent my world spinning. I tasted copper. She cradled Harvey in her arms like he was made of glass. “Jason! You KNOW Harvey has a bad heart—and you still tried to hurt him?!” I pressed my hand to my bleeding nose, glaring at him with pure hatred. “His heart’s bad? What about Ryan? MY son has end-stage heart failure!” “I could beat him to death with my bare hands, and it still wouldn’t be enough!” Harvey clutched his chest dramatically, gasping. “I’m so scared, Vivian…” Vivian’s face went cold. She grabbed me by the hair and yanked—hard. “You wouldn’t DARE.” My scalp tore. I felt warm blood trickling down. My phone slipped from my pocket and clattered to the floor. The screen lit up with a notification—a payment confirmation from the cemetery. Vivian’s eyes narrowed. She shoved me hard against the wall. “What the hell is this, Jason? Are you so desperate to hurt me that you’d curse our own son?!”

She rushed Harvey to his hospital room, cradling him like he was made of glass. “Tell Ryan to wait for me. I’ll perform the surgery myself. He’ll be perfectly healthy!” “Once I’m done here, I’ll spend quality time with you two. I promise.” I thought of the past two years—Ryan suffering through his illness, always so optimistic, always comforting me. “It’s okay, Daddy. Don’t be sad. Mommy’s a super amazing doctor. She’ll make me all better.” He trusted Vivian so completely. And he’d never see her again. I coughed up blood. The bitterness flooded my mouth. I bought cheap painkillers and left the hospital to handle Ryan’s paperwork. I scraped together just enough for the final payment on the burial plot. But when the payment went through, my card declined. My hands shook as I swiped the thin piece of plastic over and over. “Please, try again. This can’t be right… I just deposited the money!” The cemetery staff just shook their heads. I frantically opened my banking app. The screen showed a cold, merciless “0.” All the blood drained from my face. I immediately called Vivian. “Vivian! If you need money for Harvey’s treatments, use your OWN! Give mine back!” Her voice was sharp with irritation. “All my money’s tied up in research! I’ll pay you back when my grant comes through! After what you did to Harvey yesterday—putting him back in the hospital—you’ve got some nerve asking for money!” My eyes burned red. I screamed into the phone. “GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK!” “Vivian, you take this money—aren’t you afraid you and Harvey will be cursed?!” My words set her off. “If you need money so badly, why did you turn down that shift your boss offered you?” “He contacted me to convince you not to pass up such a good opportunity. I felt bad for you working so hard.” “So if you’re this desperate, why didn’t you take it?” I froze. I never expected the fight club manager to contact her. My organs twisted in agony. “Vivian… if I go back there, they’ll beat me to death.” I’d never told Vivian or Ryan what I really did for money. I didn’t want them to worry. But I couldn’t understand—Vivian could care so much about a childhood friend, yet not give a damn whether her husband and son lived or died. I begged. My voice broke. “Please. I’m begging you. I can’t go back there. Please just give me the money.” She went silent for a moment. Then finally relented. “Fine. I’ll transfer it to you.” I hung up, relief flooding through me. I could buy Ryan’s plot now. I waited all day. All evening. The money never came. Instead, the fight club manager called me. “Where are you? Your wife said you agreed to come back. I’m coming to pick you up. You’re still the best punching bag we’ve got—the regulars are asking for you by name.” “She already took a 30% deposit. You back out now, I’ll kill you myself.” My phone kept buzzing with messages from the hospital. “Mr. Parker, the morgue can’t hold bodies indefinitely. Please complete your son’s paperwork and make arrangements soon.” The setting sun bled red across the sky. I called the fight club manager back, my voice hollow. “Okay. I’ll come.” I asked how much I’d make after the deposit. The number he gave me wasn’t enough for a double plot. Only enough for a single grave. I pulled my lips into something like a smile. Then I’ll use this broken body one last time. At least Ryan will have a resting place.

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My boyfriend said he had to do one hundred little things for his first love, and once he was done, he’d come back to me. On the night of our seventh anniversary. My boyfriend, Declan, proposed to his first love, Sienna. He did it with 999 red roses and the exact Tiffany ring I had been dreaming of for years. His group of frat-boy friends went crazy liking the post on Instagram, leaving comments saying they were “born for each other.” I silently typed a comment under that viral video: “I wish you both happiness.” Declan called me almost immediately. His tone was dripping with impatience. “Harper, stop making a scene. This is just the 99th thing on the list. Once I do the last one, I’ll come back.” … The video of Declan standing in a sea of flowers proposing to Sienna had been filmed by countless bystanders. It was uploaded to TikTok and Instagram, trending instantly. The comments section was filled with strangers praising them as the perfect couple, saying “true love always finds a way.” I clutched my stomach, which was cramping from hunger. I stared at the steak dinner in front of me that had gone stone cold hours ago. My heart sank to the bottom of the ocean. Today was supposed to be our seventh anniversary. Ever since Sienna came back into the picture, Declan and I had been drifting apart. I had planned to have one final, serious talk with him tonight. He had promised me that today would be Sienna-free. Just the two of us. This morning, he even bought my favorite Napa Valley Cabernet. But this afternoon, he suddenly texted saying there was an emergency at the startup. He said he’d be late and told me to wait for him. So, I sat at the dining table from 6:00 PM until 1:00 AM. I never expected that while I waited, I’d be watching a livestream of him passionately proposing to another woman. Mechanically, I chewed on a piece of cold, tough steak and opened Sienna’s Instagram. In her latest Story, Sienna was blushing, standing on her tiptoes to whisper something in Declan’s ear. “For the last thing,” she whispered, “I want you to propose to me right now. And then kiss me.” Declan froze for a second. But then, without hesitation, he dropped to one knee and pulled out the ring box he had prepared long ago. “Sienna, will you marry me?” I stared at the ring in his hand, completely stunned. A few days ago, I found that little blue box in his jacket pocket. I thought it was my anniversary surprise. After all, I was still wearing the simple silver band he gave me when we were broke and launching his tech startup in Silicon Valley. I remember the first time I put on that silver ring. He hugged me, his eyes red with tears. “Harper, I’m sorry you have to suffer with me. I swear, one day, I’ll buy you a ring ten thousand times better than this.” I smiled and told him, “Then I want a Tiffany.” I told him I wanted him to belong only to me for the rest of his life. He promised me everything back then. It turns out, the Tiffany ring was for Sienna. No wonder he snatched the box away so nervously when I said “I love this” the other day. He lied and said his buddy Brody was storing it with him for a proposal. In the video, Sienna covered her mouth, moved. She extended her slender fingers and nodded gently. “Declan, I do.” The silver ring Declan used to wear was gone. There was only a faint tan line on his ring finger where it used to be. After slipping the ring onto Sienna’s finger, they embraced and kissed deeply while his friends cheered in the background. I picked up my phone and dialed Declan’s number. Sienna answered. She only got out a “Hello?” before the phone was snatched away by Declan. I heard her mutter unhappily in the background, “I’m going to go take a shower first.” So, they proposed, kissed, and went straight to a hotel room. Terrifyingly efficient. Declan’s voice was icy cold. “What is it?” I pressed my lips together. He clearly didn’t know he was already viral on the internet. “Where are you?”

“I’m working overtime at the office. If you have something to say, make it quick.” He seemed to walk away from the bathroom, and the sound of the shower faded slightly. My eyes were still fixed on the paused video of them kissing. “Declan, let’s break up.” “Harper, I am really busy right now. I don’t have time to play these games with you.” He paused, his tone shifting to a warning. “I’m serious.” After saying that, I hung up. … I packed my luggage and checked straight into a hotel. I slept until eight o’clock the next morning. When I turned on my phone, a string of texts from Declan popped up. “Didn’t I tell you I’d be late? Where the hell did you go to mess around?” “I’ve been exhausted all night, and you just have to make a scene?” “Don’t tell me this is about Sienna again.” Because I hadn’t replied for so long, his later texts obviously lost patience. I didn’t know if he was too busy to scroll through his phone or if he had turned off all social media notifications. I didn’t reply to his messages. I silently added him to my block list. Honestly, I should have done this a long time ago. Ever since Sienna showed up with that notebook where Declan had written down “100 Things To Do For Her” years ago, he granted her every wish. I couldn’t understand it, so I cried and fought. But Declan said it was a promise he made after Sienna saved his life in the ocean years ago. He claimed it had nothing to do with love; he just wanted to honor his word. Back then, I didn’t realize the severity of the situation, and I couldn’t bear to let go of our seven-year relationship. So, I was forced to accept it. I accepted everything. From Declan going out to buy tampons for Sienna, to accompanying her to bars late at night when she was sad. He even went on a spontaneous road trip with her. And I had to swallow all the grievances and sadness alone. I watched my boyfriend go through fire and water for another woman. If I raised even a single question, he would call me “petty,” “immature,” or “jealous and mean.” The funny thing is, I actually thought that once he paid off his “debt” to Sienna, we could go back to how we were. It wasn’t until now that I clearly saw how ridiculously wrong I was.

After deciding to give up on Declan, my work efficiency skyrocketed. My manager asked if I wanted to compete for a spot in the London transfer program. I was a bit stunned. It wasn’t until he emailed me the company’s talent development plan that I realized what was happening. Leaving work that evening, I walked out of the office building and saw Declan’s tall figure standing downstairs. He attracted quite a few glances from my colleagues. In the past, I would have run over proudly to hug him and claim him as mine. But now, I pretended not to see him and turned to walk away. He caught up in a few strides, calling my name as he ran. I dodged the hand he reached out to grab me with, stopping to look at him. I used to love his hugs and kisses, enjoying those simple intimacies. He seemed surprised that I dodged him. His hand hung in mid-air, and his expression turned cold. “I’ve barely talked to Sienna lately because of you. What are you angry about now?” “Nothing. There are a lot of people here after work, I don’t want to make a scene,” I said calmly, making up an excuse. He studied me for a moment. Once he was sure I wasn’t throwing a tantrum, he put his hand back in his pocket and smiled. “Shy?” There was a hint of smugness in his eyes. His tone softened, which was rare. “I was so busy yesterday I forgot our anniversary. I’ll take you out for a good meal tonight.” I wanted to refuse, but more and more colleagues were looking over. I was in a critical period for the overseas transfer, and I didn’t want personal drama affecting my career. I had no choice but to get in the car. When I walked to the passenger side, he opened the door for me. Immediately, I saw a Polaroid of Sienna stuck to the vanity mirror. Written on it in sharpie was: Sienna’s Exclusive Seat. Clipped to the photo was a strand of curly brown hair. Declan casually tore the photo off, plucked the hair, and threw them away. “Sienna was just pranking. Don’t mind it.” “It’s fine.” I silently closed the passenger door and walked to the back seat myself. He looked at me in shock. Only when I reminded him to unlock the back did he react. Sitting in the car, I saw a pair of black stockings stuffed in the corner. The scent of Sienna’s favorite rose perfume lingered in the air. I could pretend not to see the stockings. But I am allergic to rose pollen. I couldn’t help but sneeze twice in a row. Declan remembered this too and quickly rolled down the windows to air it out. Through the rearview mirror, I noticed his eyes looked uneasy. He opened his mouth several times but said nothing. This was the first time since Sienna returned that I observed him so calmly. On his wrist, he was wearing a light pink hair tie—Sienna’s favorite. There were faint lipstick marks on his collar. On his shirt cuff, a small letter “S” was embroidered in pink thread. His wallet was tossed casually on the passenger seat. If I remembered correctly, opening it would reveal a selfie of him and Sienna. Not to mention the little trinkets—lipsticks, mirrors, stickers—that he never allowed me to keep in his car. Now, Sienna’s things were scattered everywhere. Those “100 little things” had infiltrated every aspect of our lives like an invisible web, strangling me. I had been avoiding these details for so long. But now, looking at this version of Declan, soaked in Sienna’s labels, I realized something. The things that used to make me toss and turn at night could no longer hurt me. Even if they gathered into steel needles and stabbed me, I felt nothing. Fresh air filled the car, and my nose slowly felt better. I rubbed my nose and took the bottled water he handed me, squeezing the plastic unconsciously. Seeing my expression return to normal, he quietly sighed in relief. “I’m glad you understand. I’m done with what I promised Sienna. Just be good, stop being so paranoid.” Is it really… done? Thinking of Sienna’s Instagram and the congratulations from his frat brothers, I felt incredibly bored. “Mhm,” I gave a muffled, perfunctory response. We didn’t speak again. Just as I was dozing off, the screeching sound of emergency brakes woke me up. I looked at him in confusion. He had just ended a call, looking torn. “Sienna says her stomach hurts really bad. How about we drop her at the ER first, then go eat?” I looked at the sunset glowing outside the window. The last shred of illusion in my heart shattered completely. He and Sienna would never end. The one who needed to end things completely was me. I shook my head. “No need. You go. I’m a bit tired from work, I want to rest early.” “Don’t overthink it, I’m just afraid something will happen to her.” “I know. Just drop me off at the intersection past this suburban highway.” I thought what I said was perfectly reasonable. But he suddenly turned to look at me, furious. “Sienna is crying from pain, do you have to be so passive-aggressive? Even if you’re jealous, that’s a human life! Do you only want to be happy if she dies?” I looked at him indifferently. “I didn’t say anything. I didn’t stop you from going to her. Why are you dragging this to me wanting her dead?” He choked on my question, seemingly too lazy to argue further. “Either come to the hospital with me or get out now.” “What?” I blurted out subconsciously. We were on a loop highway around the city. Getting out here meant walking for at least two hours to get an Uber. And I was wearing high heels. He completely lost patience and slammed the car door shut. Then he roughly dragged me out of the back seat. “Reflect on yourself!” He drove off, leaving me standing in a cloud of dust. I stood blankly on the roadside, my eyes tearing up against my will. … When I got back to the hotel, the skin on my heels was rubbed raw, and I had two bloody blisters on my soles. I popped them with a needle, the pain making my nose sting. After bandaging the wounds, I sat eating a burrito I picked up from Chipotle. My mom called, asking how Declan and I were doing lately. I held the phone, my hand unconsciously picking at the takeout box. Tears finally couldn’t be held back, dropping plip-plop into my rice. “We’re good.” “That’s good, that’s good. Do you have enough money? Is Declan treating you well?” “I have enough. He treats me very well.” My throat felt like it was blocked with wet cotton. I made up an excuse to end the call. A moment later, Mom transferred me two thousand dollars. Note: Harper, keep this money. Your dad and I don’t need much at home. My last bit of strength collapsed. I bit my lip and sobbed out loud. Through blurred vision, I sent the money back. Text: No need, Mom. Did you forget? Declan is a successful entrepreneur now. He treats me well and loves spending money on me. Actually, my job in San Francisco isn’t far from my parents’ home in Oakland. But to take care of Declan, I hadn’t gone back to visit them in a long time. I made a silent decision. Once the transfer was settled, I would go home and spend real time with them. While I was lost in thought, Declan called from a different number. “Are your feet okay? You should really learn from Sienna. Stop being so jealous and competitive.” He opened with his typical tactic: a slap followed by a piece of candy. It was his go-to method for manipulating me all these years. Punish me, then offer symbolic concern. Usually, I would feel like I was the unreasonable one, beg for his forgiveness, and thank him for his “tolerance.” When he didn’t hear my apology after a long silence, he was surprised. He called my name. “Mhm,” I responded. He continued, “Sienna’s stomach really hurts.” Realizing my reaction was off, he actually explained, which was rare. “The doctor said it’s a stomach ulcer. She needs an IV drip. How about… I order you some takeout?” I swallowed the burrito in my mouth. “No need. I already ate.” Declan fell silent, probably not knowing what else to say. On the other end of the line, Sienna whimpered twice. He said, “I gotta go,” and hung up. After the call, I opened Sienna’s Instagram. Her latest Story was updated three minutes ago. In the video, Declan was gently holding her, rubbing her stomach. The background was the living room of Sienna’s apartment. I stuffed another mouthful of rice into my mouth and silently blocked this number too.

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Today was supposed to be my mating day. The day Tristan Veyne would mark me as his Luna, in front of the whole Ashveil Pack. We’d trained together since we were pups. Everyone said we were the perfect match. Future Alpha and Luna. Balanced. Predictable. Safe. I smoothed down the front of my cloak for the hundredth time and glanced toward the entrance again. Still no one. Not a single soul had shown up—not my parents, not my brother Rafe, not even Tristan. Just me, standing alone in the silence. I pulled out my phone and checked for the fifth time. No new messages. My thumb hovered over Tristan’s name before I called again. It rang twice, then went to voicemail. I stared at the screen, unsure whether to laugh or throw it against the stone wall. Then the pack announcement flashed across it: [WELCOME HOME SERA THORNHART] A video auto-played. There they were—my family. All of them. Gathered at the arrival gates of the northern ridge, where the skycrafts landed. My father beamed, my mother teared up, and Rafe had lifted Sera into a spinning hug. Even Tristan was there, standing just behind her. Sera’s golden hair glinted under the lantern lights. Her arm curled tightly around Tristan’s like she belonged there. She always did. My chest burned. A moment later, my phone buzzed again. This time it was Tristan. “Stop being dramatic, Kiera,” he said, his voice dry, like I’d called to complain about the weather. “We’ll do the ceremony later. Sera just got back from Alpha training at Wolfsbane Academy —” The line cut. I stared at the screen, my claws itching to come out. Around me, the ceremonial hall remained silent, filled only with the soft rustle of moonflower petals falling to the floor. I looked down at the cloak I’d spent hours sewing silver threads into. It pooled around me now like shed fur, like something I didn’t deserve to wear. I slipped it off and left it there. The Ashveil Pack buzzed with noise when I returned. Someone had roasted meat on the back grill. Sera’s perfume floated through the halls—rose and sweetleaf, strong enough to push every other scent away. Laughter echoed from the main room. A celebration, loud and thoughtless. No one noticed when I slipped inside through the kitchen door. I went straight to my room, sat on the edge of my bed, and stared at the list I’d written in my journal. A simple list. Every time I’d been forgotten. Overlooked. Passed over. I added another entry at the bottom: Mating ceremony—no one came. A knock slammed against the door. It creaked open, and Rafe stepped inside like he owned the place, his boots heavy on the floor. “There you are.” He looked me over, taking in the fur cloak now folded by my desk and the half-written letter to the Council. “Sera wants your meatloaf. Make it spicy—she says she missed the way you cook it.” I stared at him, hands resting on my lap. “You missed my mating ceremony.” Rafe blinked, then shrugged like it didn’t matter. “It’s just a ritual. You and Tristan can do it next moon, or the one after. Sera’s back, Kiera. We haven’t seen her in a year.” He picked up my journal from the desk, flipped through it without asking. “You still writing this stuff down?” His eyes landed on the fresh page. At the top in bold letters: FINAL WARNING. He snorted. “What’s that supposed to mean? You gonna run away? To be a rogue?” He tossed the journal back onto the bed. “Just make the meatloaf, Kiera.” I stood slowly and walked past him toward the kitchen. My hands stung as I pulled out the meat from the cold box. The new soap they’d brought back for me to use—Sera’s favorite brand—had left red blotches on my skin. Rafe leaned against the wall behind me, watching too closely. “Why are you so quiet?” he asked. “Planning to poison her or something?” Before I could answer, her voice rang out from the main room. “Rafeee! The chestnuts!” He rolled his eyes and muttered, “Coming,” before turning and leaving without a second glance. I washed my hands under cold water, watching the red fade into pale pink. My eyes drifted to the counter. There sat the ceremonial cake I’d ordered. Still untouched. The bonding rings lay beside it, sealed in their velvet box. I didn’t cry. I just stood there for a long time, staring at all the things that were supposed to matter. My wolf had been quiet all day, but now her voice was sharp in my head. Veyla, my wolf, growled low in my chest. “They’ve made their choice,” she said. “So will we.” I looked toward the window. Beyond it, the dark trees of the northern woods swayed gently in the night wind. Sera was back. She had everything. And me? I was done waiting.

I set the meatloaf down on the long oak dining table, the scent wafting through the air like a forgotten promise. Laughter echoed from the living room. Father, usually buried in Alpha Council meetings and Ashveil Pack’s logistics, sat comfortably, listening intently as Sera gushed about her time at Wolfsbane Academy. “We practiced under the pack elder Greyfang,” she said, eyes shining. “He said I had the instincts of a born Alpha—strong enough to lead any pack.” Mother clutched Sera’s hand, eyes shimmering with emotion. “My sweet girl. You’ve lost weight, haven’t you? You need more rest—too much time in training will weaken your wolf and dull your senses.” Rafe sat beside them, still dutifully peeling chestnuts like some Beta servant. I stood quietly at the threshold between the kitchen and living room—watching, never invited. That room was warm, bright, full of voices and attention. This room—mine—was quiet, dim. Forgotten. Sera’s voice rose with performative sweetness. “Kiera, why are you just standing there? Still mad at me for ruining your ceremony?” The conversation screeched to a halt. Three pairs of eyes turned toward me like I was a problem that had just come back. Father’s brow furrowed. “Kiera, come here. Don’t sulk.” Mother gave me that impatient look—the one that always followed whenever Sera cried. “You’re the one who picked that unfortunate date. Sera had just landed, we were all exhausted from the airport run. You know that, don’t you?” Then came the dagger. “If you’re going to be petty with your sister, then you’re no daughter of mine.” Sera gasped, wide-eyed and full of faux concern. “Mom, don’t be so harsh. Kiera will feel hurt…” But her smirk said otherwise. She knew my ceremony date. I told her a week in advance. She even replied: “Can’t wait! Got a surprise planned for you.” Surprise, indeed. Since we were pups, Sera had always managed to turn every situation into a test—one where the pack had to choose. They always picked her. Even my mate chose her. I should’ve felt something—anger, betrayal, sadness. But there was only… stillness. “I’m not angry.” Those three words sliced through the tension like claws through bark. Everyone stared. Father blinked. Mother narrowed her eyes. Sera tilted her head with a mock-confused pout. They had expected a tantrum, not serenity. Which meant… they knew what they did would hurt me. They just didn’t care enough to stop. Father exhaled and forced a smile. “Good. That’s good. We’re a pack. We don’t hold grudges.” “Of course,” I said, nodding with perfect obedience. It was the same voice I used to speak to the Elder wolves during full moon rituals. The relief in their eyes was instant. They turned their attention back to Sera. Dinner began. The maid had added several dishes besides my meatloaf—crab legs, lemon garlic scallops, all Sera’s favorites. “You’re too thin,” Father murmured, piling food onto her plate. “Eat more. You’ll need your strength before the orchestral trial,” Mother added, dabbing her eyes again. Rafe chimed in with a grin. “Don’t worry. If any of those city wolves give you trouble, I’ll rip their throats out.” Sera laughed, her silver hair gleaming in the light. “No need. I’ve got this.” They all chuckled. I ate in silence, the warmth of the meatloaf doing little to thaw the cold within me. Then, for the first time that evening, Mother glanced at me. She hesitated. Picked up a spoonful of meatloaf and placed it on my plate. “Try it. Don’t think we don’t care about you just because we fuss over Sera. I care about you too.” The words felt… rehearsed. Like a line from a script she’d used too often. I looked down at the food, then slowly set my utensils down. “No. I’m full.” Her expression shifted—first startled, then irritated. “What’s wrong with you lately?” She started to say more, but Sera suddenly clutched her throat, eyes wide. “Mom… I… I can’t breathe—” Her voice cracked, breath rasping. She staggered backward, knocking over her chair. Panic erupted instantly. “Sera!” Mother screamed. “What’s happening?!” Father stood so fast the table shook. Rafe was already at her side, sniffing her neck and face for signs of poison, his Beta instincts flaring. “Her scent’s spiking—something’s wrong!” My heart thudded in my chest, not from fear, but from the quiet, twisted irony of it all. In the chaos, no one noticed me standing completely still—just watching. Veyla’s voice stirred faintly in my mind. “She’s not choking, Kiera. She’s shifting. Something inside her is waking.”

Sera’s rash bloomed across her skin like a warning from the moon goddess. “Is this… an allergic reaction?” Father barked, nostrils flaring as he hovered over her convulsing form. “Why would this happen now?” Mother’s gaze snapped to me like a dagger drawn under moonlight. In the next heartbeat, her palm collided with my cheek, sending me sprawling across the tiled floor. “Kiera! What did you put in the food? Have you forgotten your sister’s triggers?!” My head rang. The room swam. I could feel Veyla stir within me, a low growl rising in the depths of my chest. But I shoved her back, swallowing the heat clawing at my throat. Rafe stepped forward, eyes flashing in disbelief. “You were so quiet… so obedient. And now this? You meant to harm Sera.” “How did I end up with a sister like you?” he added, his voice heavy with disappointment. “Enough!” Father slammed his fist on the table, the sound reverberating like thunder. “Get her to the healer now!” The room cleared in a blur—my parents and Rafe carrying Sera out, frantic and breathless, like she was the moon’s own fragile vessel. I was left alone, face throbbing, heart hollow. It wasn’t me. I whispered the words aloud, but they echoed off the silence like lies. They wouldn’t believe me. They never did. Not after everything. I felt something wet and hot on my palm. The maid had returned, her eyes wide as she caught sight of my hands. “Lady Kiera… your hands… they’re—swollen.” I looked down. Red lines bloomed across my skin like fire veins. “I’m fine,” I lied, brushing past her. In my room, I reached for an old leather-bound notebook. As I opened its worn cover, the scent of old ink and pine dust rose—memories not even the wolf in me wanted to recall. That winter, prey was scarce. Rogues pushed at our borders, and the Council demanded more from Father than he could give. When resources thinned, when space and safety grew tight, someone had to be sent away. I volunteered. The obedient daughter. The easy one to forget. The outpost clung to the cliffs beyond the pack’s borders—a place carved for old warriors and outcasts. No pack song reached that far. Only wind and silence. There I learned everything. They visited once a year for Solstice rites. Each time, they stayed less. Brought more gifts for Sera. Spoke less of me. When I finally returned, the Ashveil Pack had grown stronger—courts and galleries echoing with pride. My new quarters? A forgotten supply room near the rear exit. No windows. No warmth. Just a reminder: I wasn’t part of the vision they built. I packed my things into a worn duffel. The wedding leave I had once requested felt laughable now. I was reaching for the phone, ready to send a message to my superior at outpost—requesting return to the outpost. Tristan. My mate. Or at least, the one fate had paired me with. The one who should have stood by me. “What did you do to Sera?” he demanded, skipping any pretense of concern. “She’s in the healer’s hall. You poisoned her?” “It was an allergic reaction,” I said simply. “Don’t lie to me. You’ve always been jealous. How could you hurt your own blood like that?” His words were fire, burning through any remaining illusion I had. “Yes. I hurt her. I’ll apologize when she recovers. Are we done?” He fell silent for a second, stunned by my calm. We’d argued about Sera before—dozens of times. He used to flirt with her under the pretense of concern. Ordered her favorite foods during our dinners. Ignored my needs, my wants. “She’s your sister,” he always said, like that made everything acceptable. To my family, I was always the overreacting one. The unstable one. When Sera went to the Alpha training, I felt peace for the first time. Even Veyla had been calmer. Now, the storm had returned. “If anything happens to Sera again,” Tristan warned, his voice cold, “there will be no mating ceremony.” Then the line went dead. I pictured him rushing into the healer’s den, brushing hair from Sera’s face, playing the hero to the girl he truly wanted. My claws threatened to unsheathe. Instead, I smirked, hung up, and called my mentor back in the outpost . Later that night, the front door creaked open. Mother and Father returned, exhaustion painted across their faces. Rafe followed, his head low. My duffel sat by the door. I was ready to leave. From upstairs, I heard them speaking in hushed tones—until the silence cracked open with betrayal. “If only Tristan’s family had better standing,” Mother sighed. “He’s so good to Sera…” “Sera likes him,” Father added. “Had I known, I never would’ve paired him with Kiera.” “Still,” Mother continued, “Tristan and Kiera are more suited. Let Sera chase her dreams. He can still take care of her, even as Kiera’s mate.” The words sank like stones in my gut. Even now, they planned to keep Sera close to my mate. To my mate. I descended the stairs, my presence sudden, cutting off their whispers. Mother flinched as she saw me. “Kiera… you—You’re still here?” I said nothing. Just grabbed my bag and walked into the night—into the cold air and the arms of the moon. Veyla stirred again. We were never one of them, Kiera. But we are not alone. I tilted my face skyward, letting the night wind carry my scent far from that house. From the pack that never truly saw me. From the mate who never chose me. Let them keep their false bonds. I would forge my own.

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After Alpha Zane’s death, the leadership of the Silverfang Pack passed to his younger brother, Alpha Rex. Alpha Rex declared he would “take care of Zane’s Luna together”, visiting my room—his sister-in-law Evelyn—every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I refused. The next day, cards printed with my private photos began circulating in every major Pack group chat. They read: “Luna for hire. $50 per time, $100 for three.” Furious, I went to confront Alpha Rex: “They’re photoshopped! I never did anything like that!” He didn’t believe me. Instead, he got me drunk, threw me out on the street, and spat venomously: “Never thought you’d stoop so low. You disgust me. Spend the night here reflecting on how not to shame me again!” He hadn’t even left when his so-called Alpha “brothers” dragged me away. I was tortured until dawn, my legs nearly crushed. Covered in blood, shaking all over, I stumbled back home—only to see Alpha Rex holding Evelyn—my so-called sister-in-law, Alpha Zane’s Luna. He shamelessly whispered: “Took long enough to get her out of the way. Otherwise, I couldn’t keep loving you… Evelyn.” I summoned every last ounce of strength to call out to the voice buried deep within: “Enid.” “I’m here, Stella.” That was Enid, the wolf soul within me—silent ever since my bond with Alpha Rex. But now, finally, she awakened. “He betrayed us.” My body trembled; my voice was like snow in the wind. Evelyn nodded with feigned concern: “I could understand if Stella didn’t want you visiting me, but spreading rumors like that? The whole Pack’s heard… It broke my heart.” “And aren’t you afraid of going too far? What if she breaks the bond with you?” Alpha Rex sneered: “I only bonded with her to cover for you and my brother. And now she wants to cut it off? If she were obedient like you, she wouldn’t have had to spend the night ‘reflecting’…” He paused, contempt dripping from his voice: “If she knew her place like you, she wouldn’t have tried to bargain with Stella’s reputation. Everything that happened to her, she brought on herself.” My breath caught. My whole body shook. “She’s pregnant?” I blurted. Alpha Zane hadn’t even been dead ten days! Before I could process it, Alpha Rex’s parents—Old Alpha Ross and Old Luna Tina—appeared in the hallway. I hid in the shadows. Instead of anger, they spoke calmly, almost indulgently: “Evelyn, it’s hard on you, staying behind to give Zane an heir.” “Once you have the child, I’ll let Alpha Rex give you my emerald necklace.” That’s when I understood—this “dual replacement” had been long accepted. Twin siblings standing in for each other—an ancient, Moon Goddess-sanctioned ritual to strengthen bloodlines. Only Evelyn’s child wasn’t Zane’s. It was Alpha Rex’s. When Evelyn hesitated, seemingly wanting to defend me, Alpha Rex snorted: “Relax, I already threw her out to get her trained. When she comes back, she’ll cooperate. Otherwise—she’s not even fit to keep as a dog! She wants to break the bond? Let’s see her try!” I stumbled away, only for my communicator to ring again—another round of anonymous harassment, each message laced with mockery. I tried to hang up—when Alpha Rex burst through the door. He froze at my battered state—then quickly replaced the shock with a fake smile, wrapping his arm around me: “Stella, you’re finally back. I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have left you out there. You’re my Luna. I should have believed you.” He gently stroked my wrist. But in my mind, all I could hear was: “Alpha Rex sure is lucky. That Luna’s wild and cheap—$100 for three turns…” When he whispered, “Tonight, you’ll earn it all back,” rage exploded inside me: “Don’t touch me!” He was stunned—then yanked me to the ground: “Stella, quit the act! I told you to reflect, not cause more drama!” I hit the floor hard, gasping. He rushed to help me up, only to be stopped by Evelyn: “Stella, don’t make a scene. I heard nothing actually happened last night.” “What did I do wrong? Why is everyone on the side of the people who hurt me?” I cried out, my voice shaking like a candle flickering in a storm. “You trusted him too much. Woke up too late.” Enid’s calm voice echoed from within me. Evelyn looked at Alpha Rex, speaking gently: “I only stayed to honor Zane… What is there to fight over…” That’s when I broke. Through tears, I called the authorities. Standing up on trembling legs, I shouted: “What did I do wrong? The one who should reflect—is all of you!”

When I said that, Tina immediately jumped in: “Stella, how can you say something like that? Evelyn is still pregnant with Zane’s child, she’s all alone now… how pitiful!” Ross also cut in coldly, full of reproach: “From ancient times, it’s been acceptable to marry two women for succession. This is just to share responsibility for the late Zane. Can’t you even tolerate that much?” Seeing everyone siding with him, Alpha Rex pulled Evelyn closer and added with a smirk: “How about this—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I’ll stay with Evelyn, and Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays with you. Still not satisfied? What do you want?” I felt a fire swelling in my chest. I couldn’t take it anymore. I gritted my teeth: “No need. Just spend all seven days with her. I don’t care.” The room went dead silent. Tina froze for a moment, then clapped her leg and laughed: “Glad you’ve finally come to your senses!” Alpha Rex sighed in relief and walked toward me to embrace me. But the moment he got close, filthy images from last night pierced my mind like blades. I recoiled instinctively, nausea choking me. I shoved him away, panting, and said each word with force: “Don’t touch me.” “You misunderstood—I meant to say… I want to sever the bond with Alpha Rex.” “That way, he can be with Evelyn—openly and officially.” He froze. “Stella, what kind of joke is this?” His eyes brimmed with disbelief. “I didn’t even blame you for sneaking around with other wolves, and now you’re breaking our bond over this?” “This?” I snapped. “You left me on the street, watched me get humiliated by your ‘brothers’. Do you even know what I went through?” He sneered: “I had people watching you. What could’ve possibly happened? Or are you mad you missed a few paying clients?” Smack! I slapped him, my whole body shaking. “Alpha Rex, are you even human?” Tina rushed to block me: “How dare you strike an Alpha? He’s the leader of the Silverfang Pack!” I let out a bitter laugh. “An Alpha? Without me, your Silverfang Pack is nothing!” “I sold off the estate my father gave me to help him win the Alpha succession. I built your throne!” “Enid,” I whispered inside. “Should I keep enduring this?” “No, Stella,” Enid’s voice was calm, unwavering. “Now is the time to tear your chains. Your wolf blood was never meant for shame.” Alpha Rex exploded: “Who’d want a used-up mutt like you after this?” Outside the door, omegas peeked in, whispering: “So shameless! I’ve gotten her little card before.” “Heard she’s wild—three times for only a hundred bucks.” “I wanna try her too,” someone murmured. My body trembled uncontrollably. My knuckles turned white from clenching too hard. Tears poured out without restraint. Evelyn, ever the innocent, said softly: “Don’t say that… Stella’s not that kind of wolf…” Alpha Rex shot her a cold glance, then spat: “You’ve got the nerve to cry? If you had any decency, would people say those things?” “Enid…” I muttered. “Don’t let them stain the last of your dignity. You were never meant to be beneath their feet.” I looked at Alpha Rex, still ranting about how much he “tolerated” and “sacrificed”. “But… I loved him once,” I told Enid. “That doesn’t mean you should accept humiliation,” she replied. “Love is not a prison. A bond is not a shackle.” “You thought saving the Silverfang Pack would earn their gratitude. But they only ever saw you as a tool.” Evelyn stepped closer, deliberately whispering in my ear: “Rex loves me. He only pitied you.” “You helped the Pack, so what? He never loved you. He would never sacrifice a single thing for you.” She straightened up, raising her voice: “Just leave quietly. Maybe you can keep a shred of pathetic dignity.” I was about to respond when my communicator vibrated. The screen showed an image—me, from last night, being violated. Underneath it: “Round two tonight? I’ll pay double.” I screamed. The device slipped from my shaking hands and crashed to the floor. My chest felt like it had been torn open by claws. Even breathing hurt. I looked up, eyes locked on Alpha Rex. One word at a time, I said: “Stop pretending.” Tina and Ross’s faces turned ghostly pale.

Alpha Rex’s face turned bright red the moment I snapped at him. I casually grabbed that disgusting card stuck in the neighbor’s doorframe—printed with my private photo, along with a degrading price written across the paper. Coldly, I said, “You printed my photo. You spread vile rumors about me. I will never forget this.” He glanced nervously at Evelyn, pretending to stay calm as he protested, “Me? Why would I? Why would I want the whole pack to know their Luna is a bitch?!” He paused, then put on a look of deep affection, his tone turning mournful. “Stella, if you still care about me—your Alpha Rex—I won’t abandon you.” “As long as you’re willing to let Evelyn move in, and let her safely give birth to Zane’s child, I can forgive everything.” He looked at me with agonized sincerity, his words full of emotion, drawing sympathetic gasps from the surrounding omegas. “She doesn’t even treasure an Alpha Rex who loves her like that. What’s wrong with her?” “She was with Zane. Zane just died, and she’s already so heartless…” “Look at Evelyn, so gentle and understanding. Stella is selfish and shameless.” Evelyn, standing at the back of the crowd, smiled with satisfaction. Her lips moved slightly, and I could clearly read the two words she mouthed: “Serves you.” I clenched the card tightly, didn’t spare them another glance, and turned to leave. Alpha Rex tried to grab me, but I shook him off hard. Furious, he shouted from behind me, “You walk away now—don’t ever come back!” I walked down the stairs without looking back, my heart utterly calm. “You’re still waiting for them to change, but all they’ll become is more like stray dogs.” Enid’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind—the voice of the wolf spirit that had long slept inside me. “I endured for five years…” “You are the Luna of the Winsor Pack. Your bond is your honor, not your chains.” I could almost feel Enid standing behind me, a noble and commanding wolf shadow at my back. I reopened my communicator and sent a message I had already made up my mind about: [Dad, Mom, I’m breaking my bond with Alpha Rex. Silverfang Pack—let it go bankrupt.] Just as I was about to step out of Silverfang Pack’s gates, I halted, overwhelmed by rage and humiliation. “Shall we break the bond now?” Enid asked, her voice deep and distant. “No.” I whispered back. “I’ll do it in front of the whole pack.” “You want them to witness how a Luna reclaims her honor.” I nodded slightly. “Exactly. I’ll turn this humiliation into a trial—my trial.” Stumbling, I flagged down a cab. The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror, twitched the corner of his mouth, and sent a voice message on his communicator: [Guess who just got in my car? Luna—the one going viral in the group chat… the ‘$100 for three times’ bitch.] A chill ran through my body. I felt frozen. I clenched my teeth, refusing to let the tears fall. In my mind, Enid spoke softly: “Stella, these aren’t insults—they’re the fire that will forge your soul anew.” “Burn it all down—with your true self.” Meanwhile, back at the Silverfang Pack mansion— Evelyn stumbled, grabbing the edge of the table. A sickly blush colored her pale face. “Rex, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have upset Stella like that…” She caressed her slightly swollen belly, eyes full of delicate sorrow. “But I’m really scared… What if she, out of spite, sends someone to hurt our baby?” Alpha Rex froze, then slammed the table in anger. Evelyn immediately took his hand and placed it on her belly. “Feel it—the baby kicked just now. It must have sensed danger.” She looked up at him, tears hanging from her lashes. “Remember the fire three months ago? The omega guarding the warehouse said he saw a woman wearing a pearl necklace wandering nearby…” Alpha Rex’s pupils shrank. That was my favorite necklace. Evelyn seized the moment and leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She whispered seductively into his ear: “It’s only us—we’re the real family, aren’t we?”

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They took my uterus. Seven months pregnant. My husband kicked me so hard the placenta detached. I hemorrhaged on the ice. His reason? Someone told him I slapped his first love across the face. My brother Marcus—the one person I had left in this world—found out and just stared at me with pure disgust. “You deserved it. If you ever lay a hand on Olivia again, I’ll make you regret it.” The hedge fund they ran together collapsed. They hung the CEO title on me and shoved me into federal prison. Three years. Three years of hell inside those walls. When I got out, I was done. No more hope. No more clinging to the shredded remains of love and family that had bled me dry. But they had regrets. Oh, they had plenty of those. *** Joseph Cross kicked me. Hard. My body hit the frozen driveway and I went down. Wind carved into my face like a blade. My abdomen clenched—a deep, ripping contraction that stole my breath. Something hot gushed between my legs. I couldn’t tell if it was blood or amniotic fluid. “Joseph—my stomach—something’s wrong—I think I’m bleeding!” I reached for him. He stood right there beside me. He looked down at me from above. His mouth curled into a cold smile, like I was putting on some pathetic show. “Oh, now you know what pain feels like? Did Olivia feel pain last year? When you made her miscarry—did she feel pain?” “She never said a word against you. That’s because she’s a good person. But you?” “It’s her birthday. You threw that bastard child in her face, and then you had the audacity to hit her.” His eyes were ice. No mercy. None. “I didn’t—just let me explain!” I scrambled to stand. The ice was too slick. I slammed back down. I crawled forward on the frozen ground, desperate, reaching for the hem of his coat. “Joseph, I’m not faking—my stomach really hurts—” My fingers never touched him. Olivia, silent until now, stumbled back half a step. She pressed a hand to her temple and let out a delicate gasp. “Joseph… I feel so dizzy…” His face changed instantly. He stared at my outstretched hand, smeared with dirty slush, like it was something foul. He didn’t pull me up. He kicked me away. The sole of his shoe met my body with disgust. “Get away from her. Don’t touch her with your filthy hands.” On that frozen driveway, the kick became a death sentence. My body slid backward. A dull, sickening crack. My lower back and belly slammed into the concrete snow barrier at the edge of the drive. Something tore deep inside me. A ripping, obliterating pain that didn’t stop. I couldn’t breathe. The heat between my legs spread faster, staining the snow beneath me red. I clawed at the ice. My blood-smeared hand reached for him. “Joseph—please—the baby—get me to a hospital—save the baby—” He stood there, Olivia cradled in his arms, staring down at me curled on the ground. No pity in his eyes. Just revulsion. “Vanessa. Save the theatrics. You think a little fake blood and a sob story will make me forget what you did to Olivia?” He snorted. “Women like you—raised in trailer parks—you’ll use any trick to get sympathy.” “I’m not faking—it’s real—” My body shook uncontrollably. My vision blurred. Through the haze, Olivia nestled against Joseph’s chest. Her voice was soft, sweet. “Joseph, forget about her. I really do think I have a concussion…” He didn’t hesitate. He stripped off his coat and wrapped it around her. Scooped her into his arms. His final words landed on me like a door slamming shut. “Lie there and think about what you’ve done. Don’t expect me to fall for this.” He strode toward the parking lot. He didn’t look back. Not once. Snow drifted into my eyes. The cold seeped into my chest, reached my heart. I couldn’t hold on anymore. Everything went black.

I woke up in a hospital room. Dim light. Dead quiet. No one there. My head was thick, slow. It took a long time to piece together what happened. My hand moved to my stomach. Trembling. Seven months. Round and full. Flat. Completely flat. The baby was gone. A white noise filled my skull. Blank. Empty. My chest caved in. Like a sledgehammer had crushed it. Yesterday, the baby had been kicking. Rolling around inside me, full of life. I’d been imagining his face. And now— Seven months. That was all we got. Hatred surged up from my chest—wild, boundless. I wanted to kill Joseph. I wanted to do it right then. I dragged myself off the bed. Before I could stand, I crashed to the floor. The thud echoed through the room. The bathroom door banged open. An orderly rushed out. “Mrs. Anderson! Are you okay? I’m so sorry—I was just in the restroom.” “You just had a hysterectomy. You cannot be out of bed.” Everything stopped. “What did you say?” She helped me back onto the mattress. “You came in with a placental abruption. Massive hemorrhage. They couldn’t save the uterus. You absolutely cannot get up for the next two days. Let me handle everything—your husband already prepaid all the expenses.” Like being held underwater in freezing darkness. My blood turned to ice. I came back to myself and tore free of the orderly’s grip. I was going to find Joseph. I was going to end him. She hit the emergency call button. Shouted for doctors. A crowd rushed in. A moment later, sedatives slid into my veins. I sank into unconsciousness. The dreams coiled around me, suffocating. Memories. Marcus and me when we were kids, just the two of us against the world. Him carrying me on his back, our small lonely shadows moving through trailer parks and cheap rentals. The sweet moments after I married Joseph. The way he used to take care of me. And then Olivia appeared. Everything shattered. When I woke again, it was the next morning. I opened my eyes. Marcus was there. Sitting motionless beside my bed. His expression was flat. Distant.

Marcus is three years older than me. We’re orphans. The real kind. Our father died of a fentanyl overdose in a truck stop restroom when I was five. Our mother vanished. Never saw her again. We survived on foster homes and state checks. The kind of hardship only we understood. Dumpster diving behind convenience stores for just-expired food was normal. Begging quarters for wiping windshields at gas stations was normal. Eventually we clawed our way into college on scholarships and loans. Started working. I thought we’d finally made it. Then his senior year—end-stage renal disease. He needed a transplant. He wanted to give up. Couldn’t afford it. I got tested in secret. A perfect match. I emptied the last twelve thousand dollars from the trust our grandmother left us. Donated my kidney. I made sure the hospital signed strict privacy agreements. The social workers, the surgeons—nobody told him. Same recovery wing. He never knew. I didn’t want him carrying that weight. He’d suffered enough his whole life. I wasn’t going to let him spend the rest of it drowning in guilt toward me. He got angry later—furious I’d touched the trust money. Disappointed I’d vanished for over ten days during his surgery. I just smiled and brushed it off. Now, seeing him healthy, almost like any normal person—I was genuinely happy for him. To me, Marcus was my only family. The one who raised me. My only blood in this world. When I saw him, my nose stung. Every buried hurt surged up my throat. “Marcus—” My voice broke. He slapped me. Hard. Across the face. The blow choked every word of grief right out of me. I stared at him. Too shocked to see his expression clearly anymore. “Vanessa. I am so goddamn disappointed in you. How dare you?” “Last year you pushed Olivia down the stairs. Deliberately. She lost the baby. She didn’t press charges because of me.” “But you just keep going. You crashed her birthday party. Made a scene. Gave her a concussion. When did you become this vicious?” “She forgave you. Again. But after you’re discharged, you will get on your knees and apologize to her.” I kept staring, silent. He screamed: “I’m talking to you! Do you hear me?!” “I spoiled you. That’s the problem. I made you forget your place.” I looked at this man—face red, features twisted, unrecognizable. Was this really Marcus? Over twenty years of memories flooded through me. When we were kids, he did spoil me. Protected me. But after he fell for Olivia—got tangled up in her emotional games with Joseph—he became volatile. Erratic. He was jealous of Olivia’s boarding school history with Joseph. But he couldn’t let go of the scraps of warmth and flirtation she threw his way. I knew him. A childhood starved of love made him desperate and insecure. The missing kidney carved a deep hollow of shame inside him. And Olivia? Upper East Side heiress. Trust fund. European degree. Beautiful. He looked at her with awe. He’d comply with anything she asked, even if it targeted me. And he wouldn’t care. Back then it was all small stuff. At first I tried to talk to him. Eventually I understood. He was a grown man. He knew right from wrong. The way he acted was a choice. His choice. It hurt. But I genuinely hoped he’d find his happiness. Now here he was. Storming into an ICU room, basing everything on one unsupported accusation, demanding answers from me—me, who had just lost her baby and her uterus. I didn’t know this man. He wasn’t the Marcus who once stayed up all night, terrified, because my fever hit 104. Something thick and metallic rose in my throat. I gagged. Blood spilled past my lips. Marcus froze. A flicker of pain crossed his eyes. But he gritted his teeth. He didn’t come to me. He turned to leave. At the door, he stopped. His back to me. His voice was ice. “Vanessa. Everything happening to you—you brought it on yourself. And if you ever go after Olivia again, I won’t forgive you either.” The door slammed. I stared at it for a long time. Wiped the corner of my mouth with my hand. Blood smeared my fingertips. Tears blurred it, spreading the red in circles. Tilting my head back, I tried to force the tears down. It didn’t work. I really regretted it. Regretted scheming my way into marrying Joseph. Regretted stepping into this chaos. Olivia wavered between my husband and my brother. Stringing along Marcus—sweet, obedient Marcus who gave her everything—while refusing to let go of her first love, Joseph. So why? Why were my baby and I the casualties of their game?

The moment I saw Joseph, I knew I was finished. Completely, utterly lost. Fall of senior year. Sunlight streaming through gothic stained glass at an Ivy League alumni mixer. I spotted him beside the lectern. Chiseled profile. A tiny beauty mark at the corner of his eye. It hit me like a freight train. He was aloof. Privileged. Gorgeous. Gliding through campus on family trust money and elite venture capital internships. To catch up to him, I pulled all-nighters on full scholarship, shadowed professors shamelessly for recommendation letters. I followed him to the Ivy League. Followed him to Wall Street. His shadow. Always hovering just inside his sightline. I loved him like a secret I was terrified to speak aloud, afraid my love would inconvenience him. And then one night—after a failed acquisition, drunk—he finally looked down. He saw me. The shadow. After that day, I had a second person in this world I’d gladly die for. I knew someone else occupied his heart. I walked into the fire anyway, fully aware I’d burn alive. From dating to a Hamptons wedding—one year. After marriage, he was tender. Attentive. No matter how busy, he never neglected me. When I got sick, he stayed by my side. Every trip to Silicon Valley or London, he brought back carefully chosen gifts. We were happy then. No question. But all of it ended the moment Olivia came back from Paris. The first time he abandoned me at a highway rest stop in Jersey was to pick Olivia up at JFK. The first time he called me trailer trash with no breeding was for Olivia. Later, he, Olivia, and Marcus launched a hedge fund. I was the CEO on paper. I held zero equity. I had my suspicions. But I didn’t want to believe people could be that ugly. Of the three of them, one was my husband. The other was my own brother. When I got pregnant, I ran to Joseph with the blood test, trembling with excitement. There was no joy in his face. Just a tight frown. Disgust. He never once came to a prenatal appointment. Back then I didn’t understand why pregnancy made everything worse. I should have known. If I had understood sooner— If I had walked away then— My baby might have made it into this world alive. But “if” doesn’t exist. Joseph arrived. Olivia beside him, dressed like a magazine spread. I was pale, lips gray, the stark contrast laid bare. I saw them enter, one after the other, and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to deal with this. “You’re awake.” Joseph’s voice. Flat. No warmth. His expression was open contempt. “Good timing. Olivia came to see you. Apologize to her. Now.” “She’s a kind person. You’ve hurt her again and again, and instead of blaming you, she offered to visit. But I won’t let this keep going. You will apologize today.” I almost laughed through the tears gathering in my eyes. I’m vicious? I’m cruel? This time last year. Olivia’s birthday party. Joseph and Marcus had planned it for her at the Hamptons estate. Midway through, I went upstairs to the bathroom. She cornered me on the staircase. I hadn’t even figured out what was happening before she cried out and tumbled down. She wailed about stomach pain. Blood seeped between her legs. She passed out. On the drive to the hospital, Marcus was shaking. Joseph held her in the back seat, calling her name, urgent, desperate. Then came the story. Two months pregnant. Miscarriage. Whose child was it? Marcus’s? Joseph’s? I didn’t know. I never understood the tangled mess between them. Afterward, they dumped the entire blame for Olivia’s miscarriage on me. I spent a full year living like a convicted sinner in front of them. No matter what I said, they believed I was lying. And then—just days ago, at her most recent birthday party—she pulled the same stunt. Accused me of slapping her. They believed her. Again. Without hesitation.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619pZL2azrfLr 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni830076”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix